10.19.07

Airbus A380 Ode

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:20 pm

Is the world ready for such a miracle? The size and grandeur of the Airbus A380 leaves no limits for our imagination, it breaks all possible boundaries creating new freedom. This flying elephant strongly impresses our minds and notwithstanding huge number of troubles it encounters on its way, the Airbus A380 is going to rule in the skies. So, let us sing another ode to this exceptionally outstanding aircraft.

Technical characteristics. Airbus A380 is the largest and the most economical jetliner ever. It was designed and constructed by the concern Airbus S.A.S (earlier Airbus Industries). It is really impressing creation of the human intellect proving once again that man really is the highest stage of the evolution. The dimensions of the Superjumbo are difficult to imagine in the sky, but it flies, indeed. The height of the aircraft is 24 m, the length 73m, the wing span 79,4 m. The Airbus A380 can perform direct flights over a 15,000 miles distance.

Total grandeur. On the grounds of such a size, there is quite a lot of space on board. There are two passenger decks and you can find anything placed there: duty free shops, discos, swimming pools, some bars, weight rooms, etc. Airbus has made a lot of promises for this jetliner and its interiors especially. And now the company is trying to stick to them, making a reality of their clients’ demands, reasonable and unreasonable. That is why the Airbus A380 became such a new toy the rich long for – they can use the majestic aircraft to underline their own importance and image.

Airbus A380 superiority. And it is not only the predominance of gigantic size that impress. This aircraft is also of gigantic significance. First of all, this is a new, huge step for the humanity in the development of the technical engineering. The dream came true and people are ruling the heavens in some way. Maybe not that much, but still. Secondly, the Airbus A380 is better than its predecessors at many points. It was designed to enlarge the efficiency. Nothing more powerfully promotes the efficiency of the transport than an abundance of space. It is supposed to use less fuel and generate less noise, at least partially solving the vital issues of the twenty first century. Besides, according to its seat capacity – around 840 seats, - can cause the ticket price to be reduced.

10.14.07

Airbus delivering first A380 to Singapore Airlines

Posted in Uncategorized at 10:03 pm

Airbus will pull out all the stops to celebrate the first delivery of its A380 superjumbo to Singapore Airlines on Monday in a bid to restore European pride in a project dogged by delays, in-fighting and share scandals.

The European planemaker is flying in guests for an upbeat one-and-a-half-hour handover ceremony. It caps 7 years of effort worth 11 billion euros ($15.5 billion) to create the world’s largest jetliner and challenge the unbroken 40-year reign of the Boeing 747.

A foul-up last year over the installation of the 500 km of wiring on each plane toppled Airbus management, pushed the planemaker into loss and delayed Europe’s biggest industrial project by two years, leading to 10,000 job cuts.

“I didn’t think some of these leading airlines would stay with us through two years of delays on the A380, with five different CEO’s and a battle between France and Germany over the governance of the company,” said Airbus sales chief John Leahy.

“They have, and I think that’s a testimony to the 55,000 people who work here,” he told Reuters Television.

The first aircraft is being delivered to Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) 18 months later than planned. It will enter service between Singapore and Sydney with a flight raising money for charity on October 25. Full service will begin on October 28.

All eyes in the cut-throat airline industry will be on the frills and cabin layout to be unveiled by an airline which sets standards for on-board comforts. It has announced a 471-seat configuration, leaving more space than the standard 555 seats.

With two passenger decks and room for a bar and shops, the A380 claims 50 percent more floor space than the 747 and its designers boast it will introduce a new era of airborne luxury.

Buyers such as British entrepreneur Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic promise double beds and casinos at 30,000 feet.

The delivery is a big milestone for Airbus after it battled successfully to stave off cancellations of the mammoth passenger plane, though buyers have deserted its all-cargo sister model.

Recent deals with British Airways (BAY.L) and Grupo Marsans have lifted the sales to 189 planes amongst 16 airlines.

MORE DELAYS?

But the Toulouse-based manufacturer faces its possibly toughest industrial test during 2008 and 2009. Chief Executive Tom Enders knows Airbus can ill afford further slippage in the timetable which calls for 13 deliveries in 2008 and 25 in 2009.

Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, owned by one of parent EADS’s core shareholders, Arnaud Lagardere, reported on Sunday that Airbus remained worried about deliveries and had launched a new set of measures last month to weed out any further delays.

The first two dozen aircraft are being wired by hand while a new system is prepared to bring output to 45 a year from 2010.

Airbus parent EADS
(EAD.PA), Europe’s largest aerospace and defense group, is meanwhile bracing itself for more turbulence over the actions it took over the worsening A380 delays back in Spring 2006.

The second tranche of delays wiped 26 percent off the value of EADS shares when it was announced on June 13, 2006.

That was weeks after France’s Lagardere Group (LAGA.PA) and German car firm Daimler (DAIGn.DE) reduced their holdings, triggering probes in France and Germany over how much they and executives who exercised stock options knew of the A380 delays.

Both firms have denied insider dealing and are furious about the recent leak of a preliminary report to prosecutors by French regulator AMF spelling out “massive and concurrent” share dealing. The report does not make formal accusations.

Furore over the report spawned a secondary scandal in France over the decision by state bank CDC to buy 2.25 percent of EADS from Lagardere in April 2006. The decision led to a big loss for the bank which helps to manage state workers’ pensions.

Top government figures at the time have denied putting pressure on CDC to buy or any advance knowledge of its role.

On Sunday, Lagardere cast doubt on then Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin’s version of events by saying his aides were kept fully in the picture. Lagardere is close to President Nicolas Sarkozy who is seen as a bitter rival to Villepin.

The French Senate author of a recent report on EADS told Reuters the domestic French row was a minor irritant compared to Franco-German tensions which roiled EADS throughout the A380’s development. Those feuds led to a management overhaul in July.

“This is not as risky as it would have been 6 months ago,” conservative Senator Jean-Francois Legrand said, adding Airbus had until 2009 to find its feet before it would need more cash.

07.25.07

A380 travel for private use

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:19 am

The more money you have – the more sudden whims you have to satisfy. And if finally you want to fly on business in nothing else than in the flying palace – in these times you can find people or company who can arrange it. And such a palace can be Airbus A380 which is nowadays the biggest airliner ever and it can hold more than 840 people – imagine, how much space you can have in this palace to take with you everything you like from your home: Jacuzzi, pool table, weight room and even the stable, if your horses are fine with flying.

Saudi Oil Prince? And this thing has already happened. Around a month ago an anonymous customer has bought the Jumbo-Jet for his private use. And this is not a regular Boeing, let alone the price, this is a huge, the biggest, double decker aircraft. And what is interesting, in the media it was also mentioned that he was neither from America nor Europe. The answer to this riddle seems to be obvious: some Sultan of Brunei of the other Sheikh. Or maybe some other person come the first to mind? But then isn’t it too much to crash into some office?

Fuss over a purchase. When this case gained publicity, great number of different protests, rumors and scandals came around. Greenpeace protested against a private use of such a big jet: enormous amount of used fuel, emission and environmental pollution. And why? Just because some guy decided to go to see his ma or to impress his friends. Governments got alerted, because this purchase seems kind of conspicuous to smuggle drugs – there a lot of space to put them in there! The rest of the people started the yelling about the world hunger, dying countries of the third world and poverty.

But actually, no one really knows the reason. Maybe this wealthy man just fell in love with such beautiful masterpiece of the aircraft design?

07.14.07

Airbus A380 – Challenges

Posted in Uncategorized at 4:16 pm

To fly in the air was always a dream and we had been facing challenges since very first day. After success of giant airliner Boeing, we have Airbus a380 with several different challenges. Obviously with larger size, modern airliners have larger compatibility and logistic issue but I am amazed to know these compatibility issues or drawbacks. I think everyone will be confused with airbus a380’s landing but actual issues are different.

Biggest challenges for biggest airliner
Airbus A380 is 2nd largest aircraft on this planet. You will be amazed to know this but this is a truth. Ukrainian An-225 Cossack is the 1st largest aircraft on earth although it is not a passenger carrier. Airbus A380 is really a huge aircraft with wingspan of 261.8 feet (79.8 meters), a length of 239.5 feet (73 meters) and a maximum take-off weight of more than 1.2 million pounds (540,000 kg). Airbus A380 will be a challenge for airports all across the world. You will be thinking about its landing or its heavy weight for runways but reality is different. Airbus A380 has enough wheels to distribute its weight to each wheel so each wheel even transmit less weight to the runway as compared to any other jet. Real issue is terminal space and passenger handling. It will be a difficult task to manage more than 800 passengers. There will be huge management load of luggage which these passengers will carry. Airports have estimated that it will take a whole day for a passenger to find luggage if two Airbus A380 will land at the same time. That will be biggest hassle for airport staff and passengers. Although passenger carrying capacity is very distinctive benefit but this benefit can change airline’s profit into total loss if there will be some vacant seats on the plane.

07.01.07

Airbus A380 –Will it rule or not?

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:46 pm

Many people say that it is a big mistake. I have read about Superjumbo on many different review blogs. There is a confusion that what will happen next. After Paris air show there is not even a single order. On the other hand Boeing 747 has 16 orders since that time. It annoyed me that airbus a380 hasn’t a single order. As at April 30 2007, Boeing 747 had
Total of 182 orders from 26 customers as compared to Airbus a380 which had 14 customers for the A380 ordering a total of 156. This fact is very confusing. How we can say that Airbus a 380 will take lead over Boeing 747?

Someone ordered Airbus a380 for personal use
Airbus sales director John Leahy revealed that Airbus a380 has a buyer who is spending $100 million extra for customization of Superjumbo. Airbus a380 costs $300 million in standard form. Although person who has paid for Superjumbo is not revealed but he disclosed that he is not an American.
Aage Duenhaupt, communications director for Lufthansa said that most clients for private airliners came form Middle East. We already know that Emirates Airline has ordered maximum Airbus a380. Does it mean that Superjumbo will rule in Middle Easy only?
Having an Airbus 380 for private use is just like charging your mobile with a filthy coal-fired power station but this world is full of passion and madness. A380 will have three bedrooms, a lounge and dining area, a sauna and exercise bikes.
We know that Airbus can’t land on all airports and many airports around the world need modification to allow Superjumbo for landing so who is he? This is a big question and will be answered after delivery.

Long-haul flights or capacity
Airbus A380 is capable of carrying 840 passengers and is idea for long-haul flights die to its capacity and fuel efficiency. Who will have more benefit, Airline with long distance destinies or most crowded airlines? Superjumbo can travel more than 10,000 miles but it will be more beneficial for Airlines who are operating in most crowded area. Obviously they can more people for different short distance destinies.

06.19.07

Airbus 380(Superjumbo) - Will it change the way people travel?

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:07 am

Boeing747 is ruling skies of our planet since many decades. There are several success stories about it on review sites, consumer stories and blogs. Is it feasible to compare Boeing747 and Airbus380? My answer is in yes. I think Boeing747 is the only competitor of Airbus380. I believe that people always like comforts and reliability so I think it will rule out other giants.

What passengers will get?
There are several benefits which will urge people to change their minds. Customer’s reviews always help people to choose.
• Cost of traveling will be reduced as Airbus380 can carry almost double the capacity of Boeing747. 525 passengers will be able to travel in standard three class configuration or 853 in economy class configuration.
• Superjumbo consumes 13 percent lesser fuel as compared to Airbus380 so it will also reduce the cost.
• Airbus380 can travel long hours due to its fuel consumption so passengers will be able to reach on their destiny faster.
• Luxurious double bed rooms, showers, casinos and many more facilities will be available so passengers will get tons of amusement during flights.

Different Airlines and Superjumbo (Airbus380)
174 Superjumbo has been ordered so far and we shall see first Airbus380 in action in 2007 with tag of Singapore Airlines. Emirates is the airline who orders maximum (55) aircrafts. Airbus380 is not only biggest passenger carrier but it is the biggest freight carrier also. Although UPS and FEDEX rolled back their orders but it is still the biggest freight carrier. Qantas and almost all other airlines are in the race. Airbus380 can land on any airport which is capable to host Boeing747 so there will not be any issue related to Airports.

05.13.07

Technical Compare of Boeing 747 vs Airbus A380

Posted in Uncategorized at 10:12 pm

This, Airbus insists, will change forever the market for long-haul flights.

airbus-a380-boeing-747.gif

But even if the aerospace giant is right in its assertion that tomorrow’s long distance air travel will be from hub to hub - or large airports that can cope with the A380’s size, as opposed to direct long-haul flights between smaller airports - there are no guarantees that it will be able to recoup the $12bn invested in the aircraft.

Similar financial concerns could play on the mind of airlines which have ordered the aircraft.

There are real concerns that rather than being a giant luxury transporter that brings greater comforts to customers, the A380 might be used as a ‘cattle-class’ transporter for the masses by airlines struggling to recoup their costs.

Airbus A380 vs Boeing 747

Posted in Uncategorized at 10:06 pm

Thirty-eight years after launch of Boeing 747, as hundreds of journalists watched the brand new Airbus A380 descend onto runways in the United States for the first time, they were encouraged to compare it with the Boeing 747. My advice to Airbus: Don’t go there.

There are similarities between the A380 and the 747 of course. Both airplanes have shattered beyond imagination the limits of how much weight can be safely lifted off the ground and flown around the world. And like the 747, the A380 with its $300 million price tag is a high-stakes gamble.

But the A380 cuts a lumbering silhouette with its unrelentingly bulbous fuselage and large vertical stabilizer. Inside, the wide staircase connecting the two seating decks is the only flourish to an otherwise conventional passenger cabin.

Ironically, the French-British government consortium that produced the Concorde beat Boeing to the goal. The SST plane flew from 1976 until 2003 and was not a financial prize for its makers.

An economically successful supersonic commercial airplane remains aviation’s Gordian knot, but the Boeing 747 is still being produced in Everett, with more than 1,500 sold.

In some ways the A380 is better than the 747. It generously incorporates lighter composite materials. Its jet engines produce more thrust and lift more weight. By minimizing fuel consumption, the A380 gives its operators slight but much appreciated wiggle room in the binding that ties them to oil prices.

Those are the kinds of benefits the accountants appreciate. The intangible factors that turned the 747 into the “Queen of the Sky,” while a Lockheed L-1011 is relegated to a footnote in aviation history are harder to understand.

05.05.07

Airbus A380 Reviews

Posted in Uncategorized at 2:41 pm

Nearly 30,000 spectators watched the massive white plane with blue tail take off from an airport in Blagnac, France, and after a flight of almost 4 hours, touch down, 101 years after the Wright Brothers took to the sky at Kitty Hawk. Aviation certainly has come a long way since then! Before landing at the airport from where it had taken off initially, the A380, with it’s lights shining, did a slow, beautiful flyby of the airport. “A new page in aviation history has been written,” French President Jacques Chirac said in Paris. “It is a magnificent result of European industrial cooperation.” In a joint effort, European governments put up about a third of the $13 billion spent in developing this huge aircraft, which weighs in at 308 tons. The A380 is scheduled to enter service for Singapore Airlines in mid-2006, three months behind the previous schedule. Part of this delay stems from the superjumbo having a weight problem. This consumed month’s of engineering time, and pushed the cost overruns up to $1.88 billion.

A380 Review 1

Overview
Designed in close collaboration with major airlines, airports and airworthiness authorities, the A380 superjumbo is the most advanced, spacious and efficient airliner ever conceived. Launched in December 2000 and now in its detailed definition phase, the A380 will enter airline service in 2006.

While meeting the most stringent international certification requirements, the A380 embodies the very latest technologies for materials, systems and industrial processes. Offering about a third more seating and far more available floor space than its closest competitor, the A380 will deliver an unparalleled level of comfort, with wider seats and aisles, open spaces for passengers to stretch their legs and access to lower-deck amenities. The A380’s modern technology and economies of scale provide 15 per cent lower seat-mile costs than today’s most efficient aircraft. Consequently, the A380 will offer passengers luxury travel at much more affordable prices.

The A380 will help cope with growing passenger numbers without negatively impacting the environment thanks to significantly reduced noise and emissions levels. Thanks to new generation engines and advanced wing and undercarriage design and technology, the A380 will not only comply with current noise limits but will be quieter than today’s largest airliner, meeting strict local regulations such as QC2 for departure at London airports. The A380 will generate half the noise level at take-off and carry 35 per cent more passengers than its competitor over distances such as London-Singapore.

And the A380’s environmental friendliness does not stop at noise reductions. The economic fuel consumption of the A380 – around 13 per cent lower fuel burn than its closest competitor – will also help reduce the impact of exhaust gases on the atmosphere. Indeed, the A380 will be the first long-haul aircraft to consume less than three litres of fuel per passenger over 100 kilometres (95 miles per imperial gallon) – a fuel burn comparable with the best of small modern turbo-diesel cars.

landing at the airport from where it had taken off initially, the A380, with it’s lights shining, did a slow, beautiful flyby of the airport. “A new page in aviation history has been written,” French President Jacques Chirac said in Paris. “It is a magnificent result of European industrial cooperation.” In a joint effort, European governments put up about a third of the $13 billion spent in developing this huge aircraft, which weighs in at 308 tons. The A380 is scheduled to enter service for Singapore Airlines in mid-2006, three months behind the previous schedule. Part of this delay stems from the superjumbo having a weight problem. This consumed month’s of engineering time, and pushed the cost overruns up to $1.88 billion.

A380 Review 2

While offering all the advantages of a completely new design, the A380 will extend the benefits of Airbus family commonality to the very large aircraft sector. Thanks to the same cockpit layout, procedures and handling characteristics, pilots will be able to transition to the A380 from other Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft with only minor additional training.

Designed in collaboration with some 60 major airports to ensure airport compatibility and a smooth entry into service the A380 provides the smartest and most economical solution to growing air traffic and airport congestion. The only alternative, an increase in frequencies of existing aircraft, would not only require billions of dollars of investment by airports (in new runways, terminals and even airports) but would also contribute to greater congestion and a significantly increased impact on the environment. Airbus’ analysis of this issue has been irrefutably confirmed, both implicitly, through industry-wide participation in the programme from its outset, and explicitly, through the already immense success of the A380 on the market. To date, nine customers have announced firm commitments for a total of 97 A380s, including 17 freighter versions.

The A380 Family starts from a baseline passenger aircraft, the A380-800 with a capacity of 555 passengers in three classes, and a range of up to 14,800km/8,000nm. The freighter version, the A380-800F will carry a payload of 150 tonnes (330,000lbs) over 10,400km/5,600nm. Stretch, shrink and extended range variants of the baseline version will become available as and when the market requires them. The A380 can be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines or GP7200 engines from The Engine Alliance (a General Electric and Pratt & Whitney joint venture).
landing at the airport from where it had taken off initially, the A380, with it’s lights shining, did a slow, beautiful flyby of the airport. “A new page in aviation history has been written,” French President Jacques Chirac said in Paris. “It is a magnificent result of European industrial cooperation.” In a joint effort, European governments put up about a third of the $13 billion spent in developing this huge aircraft, which weighs in at 308 tons. The A380 is scheduled to enter service for Singapore Airlines in mid-2006, three months behind the previous schedule. Part of this delay stems from the superjumbo having a weight problem. This consumed month’s of engineering time, and pushed the cost overruns up to $1.88 billion.

A380 Review 3

Cabin layouts
The A380’s twin-aisle twin deck passenger cabin offers the long distance traveller a whole new level of comfort. A cabin designed around a large sample of today’s real passengers providing more space regardless of class of ticket, wider seats and aisles. Optional lower deck use for rest areas, business, bar or other amenities can further enhance the A380 travel experience.