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karatecatman


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...the A380 will first fly to --------
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100th posting. Become a Colonel Nice topic for the occasion!


 


                               ________________________________________________


First superjumbo service ... and the winner is Sydney


Agency


June 6, 2006


SYDNEY has beaten London to become the world's first destination for a scheduled service by one of the new double-decker Airbus A380 superjumbo planes.


Singapore Airlines expects to take delivery of the first commercial aircraft in November and to begin flights to Sydney in December.

The airline confirmed yesterday its first flight would be into Sydney and said Singapore-Sydney would be its first route when scheduled services started, probably in late December.

"We've decided on Sydney for two reasons," airline spokesman Stephen Forshaw said. "Firstly, the aircraft flight time is shorter than London. And the crewing requirements are lower than for London - we require a double crew to do London flights and the turnaround time for crew is longer for London than it is for Sydney."

Sydney airport has spent $120million preparing for the giant airliner and has built one of five planned double-storey gates that will allow the huge A380s to unload passengers from three doors and both decks.

Singapore Airlines will fly the Airbus with fewer than 480 passengers in three classes - about 100 seats more than a jumbo jet, but well below the plane's optimum three-class passenger load of 555.

Several other operators serving Sydney with A380s have also indicated they will be flying with 500 passengers or fewer.

This and the fact they will be phased in over time means airport authorities are confident the combination of lower passenger loads and the new gates will make unloading the big planes as quick, if not quicker, than emptying a Boeing 747.

Mr Forshaw said he was confident the airport would be able to handle the new plane and said it would generate excitement with new on-board products.

"The co-operation and support we've had from Sydney airport has been fantastic," he said. "I think they're as keen to receive the first flight as we are to operate it."

The main reason for introducing the bigger plane on the Kangaroo route between Britain and Australia was to boost seat capacity without having to increase the number of flights, particularly into Sydney.

Melbourne was also on the agenda but no decision on timing had been made.



-- Edited by karatecatman at 00:39, 2006-06-06

-- Edited by karatecatman at 00:41, 2006-06-06

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karatecatman


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The Most Advanced Flight Deck
Agency


The world’s biggest airliner also has the smartest cockpit, with screens that show more and make it easier to fly


(Source: Airbus)


March 2006


Primary flight display is larger than older versions and shows multiple streams of information, including digital instrumentation, deftly prioritized for the pilots.


Navigation display registers course changes graphically when the pilot programmes new waypoints. A vertical situation display shows a side profile of the flight path relative to the terrain, providing a more intuitive reading of the ground.


Multifunction display allows pilots to enter navigation data and radio frequencies and to communicate with flight controllers.


Engine warning system alerts pilots to engine and fuel-system problems.


Head-up display projects data onto a retractable screen, and an optional infrared view sees through darkness and fog during takeoff and landing.


Sidestick hand controllers move the wings and tail. Placing them on the side (instead of in the center) leaves room for a full keyboard.


Onboard information system displays maps and manuals and, while taxiing, runway diagrams.



The four massive 70,000-pound-thrust high-bypass turbofan jet engines driving the A380 will actually be quieter than the engines on many smaller planes. That’s because high-bypass engines employ carefully sculpted blades and wider fans (116 inches in the A380’s Rolls Royce model) to accelerate more air past the engine core and out the rear, allowing the engines to operate more slowly and quietly without sacrificing thrust.


 



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vivekman


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Lower passenger configuration would mean that these airlines will surely introduce passenger amenities like bars, gyms, lounges, etc. This would be a nice way to while away the boring hours especially on long intercontinental flights.


- Vivek


 



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karatecatman


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Premier customer Singapore Airlines has clearly said that it is not interested in gyms and bars, but will prefer large open areas.   

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karatecatman


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karatecatman wrote:

Premier customer Singapore Airlines has clearly said that it is not interested in gyms and bars, but will prefer large open areas.   

 


June 2, 2006


Now you can take a shower at 35,000ft
UK press


PASSENGERS on long-haul flights could enjoy in-flight showers at 35,000ft as a result of a new invention by Boeing.


Until now, the bulk and weight of carrying water has prevented airlines offering refreshing showers on journeys.


But researchers in the US have designed a "shower" that sprays passengers with a fine mist of water before blow-drying them with warm air.


Boeing said last night that the design was at the "concept" stage, but a working prototype had been built at its concept centre in Seattle. It said that the misting shower used just five cups of water, with the washing and drying cycle taking ten minutes.


A Boeing spokeswoman said: "Dubbed the 'Seattle Mist', the unit was an original idea that first emerged during a project discussion on what could be done to help passengers be more comfortable and refreshed during flight."


She explained: "The passenger comes in, presses the start button and adjusts the shower to their height. A fan starts blowing warm air in the compartment.


"When the user is ready, he or she enters, and a few seconds later the system starts dispensing a warm mist. Water and coloured lights will envelop the user in a soothing environment for a minute. To save water, the misting stops when the soap cycle is on. After the rinse cycle, a dryer is activated and gives ample time for a person to step out completely dry and refreshed."


After each use, the shower switches to cleaning mode, in which disinfectant is sprayed on the walls, then the fan dries the unit with no need for maintenance by the cabin crew.


In-flight showers are already in use on private aircraft. Five Boeing business jets - which are modified versions of the 737s used by airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair - have been fitted with AquaJet showers that filter and recirculate the water used.


Derick Williams, a consultant to AquaJet, doubted whether showers would be introduced on commercial aircraft because of the additional fuel cost of carrying the extra water required.


He said airlines also feared the insurance implications of providing in-flight showers.


Several airlines have previously suggested they were considering on-board showers for first-class passengers, but have since backtracked. Virgin Atlantic had said that it was an option for the forthcoming Airbus A380 superjumbo, but this has now been downplayed.


Singapore Airlines, due to be the first to fly passengers on the A380 at the turn of the year, said: "What we offer must be economically viable and so passengers will not find amenities like showers and bowling alleys."


 



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the_380


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well indian media had an article to post on the A380 which stated that VirginAtlantic will introduce in-flight bar, double beds, and a shower room

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the_380


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Well its ok for airports...


First airline to take delivery is SQ followed by QF and then EK who comes next any info?



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the_380 wrote:

well indian media had an article to post on the A380 which stated that VirginAtlantic will introduce in-flight bar, double beds, and a shower room

This article makes it clear. With soering oil prices, an issue being debated with vigour in the on-going IATA meet, no airline wants to be loaded with extra weight --- shower room will have to have extra water tanks aqnd the insurance implications. 


Planes have to make money.  



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karatecatman


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Airbus A380 passengers flat out
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Airbus passengers flat out


June 7, 2006


Source: Singapore Airlines



BUSINESS class travel is about to undergo another revolution, predicts airline manufacturer Airbus.


And the aviation giant says its new A380 aircraft, the world's biggest jetliner, will help deliver better seats and more room for passengers.


Airbus product marketing manager for the A380 Corrin Higgs said yesterday that airlines were paying close attention to the views of their loyal business travellers.


Mr Higgs said passengers now expected to get flat beds in business class, although the seats were slightly angled.


"So the next step for an airline wishing to differentiate itself in a substantial way in business class is to provide what we call flat-flat rather an angle flat seat."


 
 The pitch of business seats will grow from 60 inches to 80 inches, leading to unusual seat configurations in cabins.


"You might have seats facing at an angle or creeping backwards and forwards next to each other," said Mr Higgs.


In turn, first class -- which already features totally flat seats -- would have to be improved by providing the well-heeled passenger with more privacy and more room, he said.


Speaking at a briefing at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, Mr Higgs said the A380 super jumbo would give airlines the opportunity to revolutionise their cabins.


Singapore Airlines will be the first to fly the 555-seat jetliner, starting with the Singapore-Sydney route from December.


Qantas has also ordered a fleet of super jumbos, due to take off mid next year.


Most airlines are expected to offer bars, lounges and duty-free shops aboard the A380, but Airbus has hinted passengers can expect some big features.


"For any specific airline I wouldn't rule anything in or out," said Mr Higgs.


Airbus marketing manager Thomas Burger said the A380 was far superior to Boeing's answer -- the 747-8 stretch jumbo.


"We have more floorspace on the A380 . . . when Boeing's aircraft goes into service it will already be too small," he said.


Airbus expects about 1600 jumbo-size aircraft to be needed worldwide over the next 20 years.


But Boeing is counting on the success of its mid-size new model, the 787 Dreamliner, which has won substantial orders, including from Qantas.



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Airbus unveils luxury options for A380's first passengers
June 09, 2006

IMAGINE private booths with a real bed as well as a seat, luxurious business class sleeper suites that lie fully flat, wider economy-class seats, bars, lounges and new entertainment systems.

If a new cabin mock-up of the Airbus A380 at the European manufacturer's headquarters in Toulouse, France, is anything to go by, passengers will enjoy new levels of comfort when the big jet starts commercial services to Australia later this year.

Airbus officials say the new mock-up has been built using commercially available parts to more closely reflect the creature comforts being introduced to the plane by airline customers.

Exact details of the airline plans are still under wraps and sensitivities are such that Airbus does not permit photographs in the cabin simulation. And anyone who has seen the real thing is subject to confidentiality agreements. It's fair to say, however, that the A380 is likely to take on-board facilities to a new level.

Australians will join Singaporeans as the world's first passengers on the superjumbo as Singapore Airlines becomes the first carrier to introduce it into commercial service.

The Singaporeans are tight-lipped about their new product, likely to be unveiled a few months before the first commercial flight in December, but it is expected to continue the airline's philosophy of being at the forefront of new developments.

Singapore will have fewer than 480 seats on the plane - at least 75 less than the 555-seat, three-class configuration recommended by Airbus - and this gives the airline a significant amount of space in which to do interesting things. Other airlines to put in seating configurations well short of the Airbus recommendation include Qantas and Emirates.

The plane's design means there is a lot of room in the cross-aisles next to the doors.

Airbus has put bars and self-service food areas in these spaces and hints that airlines are doing likewise, without revealing any secrets.

At least one airline is understood to have opted for a bar with an area in which people can lean against benches and socialise.

All have opted to use space next to the aircraft's wide front stairs, which can easily accommodate two people travelling in opposite directions, as a lounge area. One is understood to be including a large plasma or LCD screen to allow for business presentations.

Privacy will be key in first class. Several carriers have introduced private cubicles.

Business class is also set for an upgrade. The next-generation seats featured at Airbus are closer to current first-class standards and officials say the next big thing will be beds that lie completely flat.

Business class passengers can also expect a bar area.

Even the poor souls in cattle class are likely to benefit. The new plane allows for the kind of premium economy sections already available on airlines such as British Airways, Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic.

Depending on the individual airline configuration, economy class passengers could also get similar areas for the first time. The extra girth of the giant plane means that seats are 9 per cent wider.

Legroom is still at the whim of the airlines but new seat designs are tipped to give people more "personal space". Airbus has opted for a 34-inch seat pitch in its economy mock-up but there is no guarantee this will be the norm.



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VABBy


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There are heaps of players who would be taking A380 MH, Etihad, LH,.....



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