Airbus today completed the first media flight on the A380 without any major hitches but the event was not totally blunder free.
Several oxygen masks accidentally became deployed at takeoff and landing, capturing the attention of television crews including CNN. Airbus technicians quickly responded by re-installing the oxygen masks (see picture), explaining the masks had been tested on the previous flight.
The landing was rough but the captain was quick to blame it on the stiff crosswinds, which were blowing at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots. The climb out was also bumpy, with winds blowing at 17 knots and a crosswind component of 50 degrees.
Airbus tried its best to focus on the positive. During a briefing prior to the media flight, senior vice president for the A380 programme Mario Heinen refused to reveal how much the aircraft has cost to develop or how long it will take for the programme to break even. "You are privileged to be among the first group to fly the aircraft. Let's focus on the aircraft," he told the 200 journalists gathered to fly in the A380 for the first time.
After several months of being battered in the press by delays to the A380, Airbus is eager to get some positive publicity. Despite the hiccups today, the headlines tomorrow are sure to be better than the headlines from last year. Heinen assured journalists the A380 will have "the best entry into service ever" when launch customer Singapore Airlines begins operating the aircraft in October. "That's what it's about, that's why you are here," he said.
"It's a game changing airplane," exclaimed Airbus sales chief John Leahy. "The only minor problem is we didn't build it on time ... This plane is worth the wait."
Time will tell.
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