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Airport Proved Successful in Handling World's Biggest Aircraft(AllAfrica.com English Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Addis Ababa, Oct 22, 2006 (The Daily Monitor/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --The Addis Ababa Bole International Airport proved efficient in handling A380's take offs and landings, where the world's super jumbo aircraft successfully concluded its first flight-testing in Africa, Aircraft Representatives disclosed on Friday at a press conference held at the airport's new cargo terminal building. The representatives said the airport's run way and landing, taxi ways and infrastructure were perfect for entertaining A380's (400 tones weighing) high altitude flight testing. The A380's crew has conducted four-five flight testings, taking off and landing at the airport from Monday to Friday. Airbus chose Addis Ababa to conduct A380's first flight testing in Africa because of the city's altitude above sea level (8000 ft.), its temperature range and the facility at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, according to the representatives. Airbus had previously conducted similar flight testing for its earlier introduced A320 at the Addis Ababa Airport some years ago. Following the press conference, the A380 developmental aircraft that exercised flight testing at the Bole Airport was visited by Ethiopia's President Girma Woldegiorgis, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfine and other dignitaries. According to the Aircraft Company, A380's flight testing is progressing well around the world with five A380 developmental aircraft having taken to the air, while the new plane is on track for aircraft type certification at the end of the current year. The A380 can accommodate 555 passengers in a standard three-class configuration, while it is certified to transport up to a maximum of 853 passengers plus 20 crew members with a variant A380generation, according to the company. Upon completion of the certification process, the world's largest commercial airline is scheduled to be delivered to customer airlines, which, for the time being does not include ETHIOPIAN. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake has, at the reported press conference, said that ETHIOPIAN has for the time being no plan to acquire the A380, as the airline's current performance would not call for such world's supper jumbo aircraft. Airbus has, however, planed to invite ETHIOPIAN in January 2007 for a potential acquisition of its other newly medium capacity long range wide-body A350 XWB to be available from 2012 on, The Daily Monitor has learnt. The A380 has already secured 159 orders from 16 customers, with Emirates - the world's reportedly second most profitable airline which this year commenced Dubai-Addis Ababa services - destined to be the largest receiver of some 43 A380s. More than 60 airports around the world will be ready for A380 operations by 2010, while 24 airports are expected to be active with aircraft's services by the end of this year. According to the company, the A380 can take off and land in less distances than other large aircraft, with its wing spans and area proving greater lift and less drag. Singapore Airlines will be the first operator of the wold's largest commercial airliner when commencing deliveries in 2007. Copyright 2006 The Daily Monitor. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |