The Airbus A330neo Performs its First Flight – Live from Toulouse
Roberto Leiro
TOULOUSE — The first prototype of the A330-900 has taken off this morning before the eyes of Airbus’ employees, invitees and media.
The aircraft, (F-WTTE · MSN 1795) departed Toulouse–Blagnac Airport at 09:57 local time (07:57 GMT), commanded by Captains Thierry Bourges, and Thomas Wilhem, Experimental Test Pilots, and Alain Pourchet, Test-Flight Engineer. The Flight Test Station Staff were Jean-Philippe Cottet, Emiliano Requena Esteban, and Gert Wunderlich.
The progress of the test flight, focused on the aircraft’s handling characteristics and flight envelope, will also be monitored in real time on a ground station via a direct telemetry link.
During the planned two-hour flight over Southwestern France, a Dassault Falcon 20 chase plane will join the A330-900 to document the behavior of the aircraft in flight. (Credits: Author)
Airbus plans to carry out a 1,400-hour flight-test campaign. The A330-900 will log 1,100 flight test hours before its certification and delivery to TAP Portugal by the third quarter of 2018.
The shortened -800 variant will go through a shorter flight test campaign of just 300 flight hours, and its certification is planned to take place in 2019.
A total of three A330neo will integrate the flight test fleet. The second A330-900 is set to join the fleet by the next month. The third aircraft, an A330-800, is currently in production.
To date, the A330neo program has logged 212 orders. 206 correspond to the A330-900, and just six A330-800 for Hawaiian Airlines (HA).
Among the largest customers there are AirAsia X (AK) with commitments for 66 aircraft, Iran Air (IA) for 28, Air Lease Corporation with 27, and Delta Air Lines with 25 aircraft.
AN ENHANCED MTOW VERSION ON THE WORKS
During a press conference after takeoff, Fabrice Brégier, president and chief executive officer of Airbus, has confirmed that the company is planning to systematically improve the Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of the A330neo, taking it from 242 tonnes to 251 tonnes by mid 2020, and it will extend the range of the A330neo by 700 nautical miles when compared to the standard neo, and 1,500 nautical miles when compared to the A330ceo (current engine option).
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