GP7000-Powered Superjumbo Will Visit Americas, Asia-Pacific

European planemaker Airbus tells ANN its A380 MSN009 test aircraft, powered by the new Engine Alliance GP7000 engines will embark on a series of four tours as part of its technical route proving.

During the certification exercise -- which aims at accumulating 150 hours of "typical airline" continuous operation -- the A380 will visit destinations in South America, North America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

The A380 will first go to Bogota, Colombia (September 26-27), returning to its home base in Toulouse, South West France. It will then fly to the US, landing at Windsor Locks, CT; Hebron, KY and San Francisco, CA (October 2-5) and back to Toulouse. The route proving will continue, flying to Dubai; Melbourne, Australia; Manilla and Luzon in the Philippines and back to Dubai before returning to Toulouse (October 8-13). The next destinations to be visited are Bogota, Colombia; Vancouver, Canada and Osaka, Japan (October 15-19).

Airbus says the technical route proving tour aims to demonstrate the A380 can be turned around under normal airline operating conditions. The same tours were successfully completed by test aircraft powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines in 2006.

Tests will cover, among other things, checks on standard aircraft maintenance and behavior, as well as typical airport operations and compatibility, confirming the aircraft's readiness for entry into service.

Type certification for the A380 fitted with Engine Alliance GP7000 engines is expected for December 2007, according to the planemaker.

FMI: www.airbus.com