Posted on 05/21/2004 9:34:27 AM PDT by SW6906
IT HAS been five years in the planning and is costing £6.6 billion. But while the makers of the world's largest aircraft concentrated on the big picture, they seem to have overlooked a few minor details.
Not only is Airbus facing delays in delivery of the wings for its A380 super-jumbo jet, there is also fierce opposition to the company making essential changes to one of its factories.
Development of the 555-seat A380 is one of Europe's largest industrial projects, an engineering achievement that involves Airbus producing parts in four countries.
Yesterday, it emerged that the A380 won't even be able to land at its Hamburg factory to be fitted out and painted. A German court has ordered Airbus to stop extending an essential runway at the factory because of opposition from environmentalists and residents. To expand the runway, Airbus must dig into a dyke. Airbus plans to appeal, but given the power of German Greens no one is expecting an early resolution.
However, it would be an achievement for the aircraft to be able to fly to Hamburg at all. The A380's 80-metre wings are being made at Broughton, in North Wales. The plan was to ship them to the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, on a purpose-built ferry. Except that the Environment Agency and the Welsh Assembly have refused the Port of Mostyn permission to dredge the harbour so that the ferry can dock. That would upset the wildlife.
Instead, the wings have to be partially dismantled and shipped on a smaller boat to Toulouse, but even this vessel may not get access to the dock as the harbour continues to silt up.
With the first A380s due for delivery in 2006, there is serious concern about delays in assembling the aircraft and doing the necessary test flights.
An Airbus spokesman in Toulouse said that it was a national holiday in France and referred The Times to Hamburg. At Hamburg they said it was a national holiday and to ring back on Monday.
Dunno, Airbus might just expand their base of operations here in Wichita. The state would practically pay them for it. Kansas likes to subsidize a lot of stuff for "greater benefits" (here, jobs), doesn't matter who's in the legislature or sitting in the governor's mansion.
Ping
Ping
This plane is another Concorde. It will be a disaster for Airbus. We should hope that they build plenty of them. They will find few markets for them as it is a obsolete solution.
Knowing how they are making it, I wouldn't feel comfortable about flying in it.
The A380 will take sales away from 747s in Asia. Remember who said it first.
Also being overlooked is the notion that the airlines are largely going to smaller planes as a result of industry dynamics and the rising cost of fuel. They simply can't afford to run half-empty planes across the country. So Airbus apparently is fighting an economic battle indirectly as well. Perhaps the overseas markets are different such that greater sized aircraft are practical, don't know.
eno_:"The A380 will take sales away from 747s in Asia. Remember who said it first. "
eno_'s claim is a no-brainer as there is a market for large cattle cars in Asia. No doubt that the A380 buyers in Asia would possibly otherwise be buying 747-400s.
Pukin Dog's statement is MUCH more daring. I hope he's right.
Then they'll have the lesbians against them, too!
Virgin Atlantic just delayed their 2006 deliveries to 2007.......
That is just what I was talking about.
My 26 y.o. son is a captain for a regional airline flying 50 passenger RJs. Says they are inexpensive to buy, and cheap to fly. Needs just a captain, first officer and one flight attendant. They are very profitable.
Were do you get this? I did not think that they had actually sold more that 13 or so. The others were staments of intent. Can you point me toward a real source on this?
Not mentioned is airlines are very concerned with the rising cost of fuel and I predict they may cancel or postpone orders for the A380 fuel hog. Boing did the wize thing not to chase the 500+ seat market and instead build the beautiful fuel efficient 7E7. Besides polls show people prefer to fly on an A/P of carrying 250 passengers vs. 550.
FLY BOEING
I work the AOG desk here for Airbus in USA. This monster is a giant death trap. I would not set foot on one of those planes for anything. I wish the USA would ban them too. They might as well start producing Spruce Gooses now... and while thy're at it, why dont they just paint a big bullseye on the plane also. That would make it easier for those RPGs too..
They could not finish building the Tower of Babylon and now they can't come together to build the flying version.
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