global briefing
Heavy weight
A330neo starts
test campaign
undergoing a short 30 to 40-hour flight test
campaign before it is certified. The aircraft is
expected to enter service by July this year.
Jean Phillipe-Cottet, head of development
flight tests for Airbus said, “The first flight was
a normal flight, the same as we do with all of
our aircraft. We checked all the systems
during the flight to ensure that we can
perform a proper development campaign in
the coming weeks.
“This is not a brand new aircraft. We did a
lot of the testing during the -900 campaign at
the higher weight. We had special
authorization for the landing, climb
performance and noise testing to cover
the extension.
“This prior testing has reduced
the flight test campaign for
the 251 tonne version. We
want to check the
flexibility effect with the weight, some
handling qualities and do some high-altitude
testing. We will be performing stalls, high
“with the extra weight
capacity we are bringing a
phenomenal range capability”
Airbus is flight testing a heavyweight
version of the A330neo in Toulouse over
the coming months, with a planned
entry-into-service for the aircraft by the
middle of this year.
The new version of the A330-900 has a
251 tonne maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
compared to the 242 tonne MTOW of the
original version, which was certified in
December 2018.
The extra 9 tonnes enables the aircraft to
travel an extra 650 nautical miles,
significantly increasing the number of city
pairs it can join. According to Airbus this
could include for example, London to South
America or South Asia, or Dubai to any
destination in Australia.
Maria-Luisa Lucas-Ugena, head of
widebody marketing for Airbus said. “First we
bought excellent efficiency with the neo for
the A330 family and now with the extra
weight capacity we are bringing a
phenomenal range capability.
“The extra range to 7,200 nautical miles is
very significant and gives the A330neo the
capability to open new routes. It is becoming
a true trans-Pacific airplane.”
MINI CAMPAIGN
The 251 tonne variant made its maiden flight
on February 28 from Toulouse, France and is
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