Aircraft

Test flights help A380 get back on track

Airbus’ majestic A380 super-jumbo has been wowing the crowds at Le Bourget as it did two years ago – but this time powered by the Engine Alliance’s GP7200 engines.
Making its public debut as an airframe/engine combo, this aircraft – MSN9 – has been successfully checking off test milestones in preparation for joint US (FAR25) and European (EASA) certification in December this year.

The flight-test programme, which started in August 2006, is nearing completion and the A380 taking part in the flying display has accumulated more than 126 test flights and 1,500 engine flight hours to date.

Most recently, in-flight noise certification testing was completed in Morón de la Frontera, Spain. Preliminary review of more than 200 flight conditions indicates that the GP7200-powered A380 is on target to meet Stage 4 noise requirements with a significant margin, as well as complying with the stringent London Airport QC2 departure and QC1 arrival noise limits.

Forthcoming flight tests include a 150-hour functional and reliability route-proving demonstration planned for this autumn. And starting in July, the GP7200 will begin 3,000-cycles of service-ready ground endurance testing, further to mature the engine and ensure a smooth entry-into-service.

The first set of four GP7200 production engines were delivered to Airbus in Toulouse earlier this month for installation on the first A380 aircraft for Emirates.
In addition to Emirates, the GP7200 engine has been selected by Air France, which recently increased its A380 order from 10 to 12 aircraft, Korean Airlines and International Lease Finance Corporation.