Ten years’ operational experience means Airbus can optimise A380 maintenance schedules. Ian Goold reveals the secrets of its success.
AIRBUS A380 SPECIAL
Airbus promised A380 customers efficiencies and cost-savings by keeping the type out of the workshops for as long as possible, while still operating effectively and safely. Since entry into service (EIS) in October 2007 the company has continued to improve reliability, further reducing costs and keeping the aircraft available for revenue-earning duties.
A380 Programme head Alain Flourens said: “We have been continuously working to improve operations, facilitate maintenance, and increase profitability of the aircraft – in particular with an optimised cabin space. We are offering improved cabin layouts so [that] airlines can optimise revenues. Increased cabin flexibility also meets market needs.”
The manufacturer said that at EIS modern technologies and operational experience with previous models gave the “highest maintenance intervals ever for a new aircraft”.
By the beginning of this year, the ‘lead’ A380 had logged more than 42,000 flight hours (FH) and 5,000 flight cycles (FC). The 207-strong fleet had completed more than 3.6 million FH.
The Toulouse-…
