HIGH MARKS FOR A380 IN MEDELLIN :: Namibia Internet Gateway cc ::

Articles: HIGH MARKS FOR A380 IN MEDELLIN

Posted by admin on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 03:56 PM

The A380 has reached another key milestone on the road to certification with the successful completion of high altitude tests in Medellin, Colombia, followed by further tests in Guadeloupe

The tests were part of the ongoing campaign to validate the performance of the aircraft’s engines, systems and materials under difficult conditions.

The second A380 test aircraft left Toulouse on January 10 and flew directly to Medellin airport, which sits at an altitude 7,000 feet (2,134 metres). From January 11-13 a number of tests were conducted to determine how the aircraft performs at high altitude airports.

The aircraft’s four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines were tested up to their maximum thrust and the aircraft successfully performed six take-offs. The flights also provided the opportunity to test autopilot landings at high altitude airports.

The auxiliary power unit (APU), which provides power when the aircraft is on the ground, was comprehensively tested to verify its performance at high altitude with maximum load conditions.

Following the Medellin tests the aircraft flew to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe for two days where it performed similar engine tests, including two take offs, at an altitude just above sea level. Emanuelle Costanzo, flight test engineer, who traveled for the first time with the A380 outside of Toulouse, explained that further tests were conducted in Guadeloupe because although the altitude was comparable to Toulouse, the 27°C temperature was much hotter than conditions in Toulouse at this time of year.

“Overall we gathered some very encouraging results,” said Emanuelle, adding that the flights to and from Toulouse, which are representative of what the aircraft will do when it enters into service, gave the team the opportunity to test such things as the aircraft flight management, fuel and weather systems.

A crew of six people from Airbus was onboard each flight. A pilot and engineer representing the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) joined the crew for the high altitude tests.

The aircraft also made a short trip from Guadeloupe to Fort-de-France, Martinique for a ‘touch-and-go’ landing to display the aircraft to the eager crowds.

Just as with previous trips, the A380 drew huge public interest. “The welcome that was given to us in Medellin was incredible,” Emanuelle said. “Every day, from eight in the morning until the end of our tests at eight at night, there were a lot of people around the airport waiting to see the aircraft. They welcomed us as stars!”

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