Airbus has been granted type certification for the ultra-long-range A340-500 by the European Joint Aviation Authorities, following a certification campaign, which benefited from the aircraft's 100 percent systems commonality with the larger A340-600.
The A340-500, of which Emirates Airline has firm order for six, with deliveries to start next year, has a shorter fuselage and a longer range than the A340-600 which received its type certificate in May 2002.
Since its maiden flight on 11 February 2002, the A340-500 successfully completed some 400 flight hours in more than 150 flights in a certification campaign which involved two test aircraft and focused on the A340-500's own particular geometry and configuration. Following the example set by its sibling, the A340-600, the A340-500 flight test results have fully met and, in some cases, significantly exceeded customers' expectations.
The A340-500 and –600 are members of Airbus' A330/A340 Family, which has won almost 750 firm orders from over 60 customers to date. Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the US, China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE SYSTEMS. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
