Aircraft

Airbus's troubled A380 programme is finally due for some good news, with certification of the sperlarge airliner expected to take place next Tuesday, 12 December, the company's chief test pilot has revealed..

Speaking in Paris, vice president of Airbus's flight division Claude Lelaie confirmed that all technical criteria necessary for the certification have been fulfilled, and a final certification meeting took place yesterday. However, the certification will take place before the maximum energy rejected take-off test is carried out. Until such time, the A380's brakes will be limited to absorbing 89mJ (84,360BTUs) of energy. 

This is expected to happen either later this month or early January with aircraft MSN001, Lelaie says.Meanwhile, aircraft MSN007, which has so far completed just two flights and 6.5 flying hours is set to be used for demonstration work to airlines, beginning next year.