767eng From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2010, 47 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 11055 times:
I hear BA are testing ground ops on the A380 at the weekend using one of the Airbus test aircraft which will also be at the customer and staff open day.
Anyone know when it's planned to touch down and when it's planning to fly back?
CXfirst From Norway, joined Jan 2007, 2695 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10251 times:
Quoting sandyb123 (Reply 4): Or the lead up to BA A380 EIS although that isn't until 2013.... Maybe a bit of a PR stunt?
Sandyb123
Aren't the majority of A380 gates at T5C? That satellite recently opened, so they have had time to perfect any problems, and now, when they know things are working right, they can test an A380 there.
Could that be the reason for doing it today? Or is the testing being done at T5A or T5B?
Or perhaps a wise precaution after the debacle of the first week after T5 opened.
However bringing the 380 in so it can also feature at the BA family day this weekend together with Concorde, the last BA 752 and the last 320-211 that flew its last revenue flight yesterday (31 August) will certainly not be bad for staff morale. In many ways its better than a costly trip to FAB. I'm jealous!
CARST From Germany, joined Jul 2006, 705 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 8236 times:
Quoting lhr380 (Reply 7): That had nothing to do with gates. It was a baggage system problem.
But an A380 equals a looooot of bags at the same time... I don't expect that to be a problem now, but you'll never know. Testing all the ground-handling including gate space, baggage handling etc. might be a good idea after all.
airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6873 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 7889 times:
Quoting CARST (Reply 8): But an A380 equals a looooot of bags at the same time... I don't expect that to be a problem now, but you'll never know. Testing all the ground-handling including gate space, baggage handling etc. might be a good idea after all.
Somehow I doubt the Airbus test aircraft will be there loaded with bags for baggage handling tests
lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 7858 times:
Quoting CARST (Reply 8): But an A380 equals a looooot of bags at the same time
Probably a extra set of carts compared to a full 747, so no major differences. It went to pot when the place opened but now things generally run very well. 9 times out of 10 I have seen my bag come out on the belt by the time im walking into the baggage hall, even if I have come from A or B. If they are testing the 380 gates (Bear in mind BA are not getting them till late next year) it would just be checking the 380 gates and stuff.
CARST From Germany, joined Jul 2006, 705 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 7833 times:
Quoting airbazar (Reply 10): Somehow I doubt the Airbus test aircraft will be there loaded with bags for baggage handling tests
I could be wrong, but I think they did the same thing in FRA. At least the tested all their ground equipment with an Airbus test aircraft. There is a youtube video about the event.
VV701 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 6621 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6423 times:
Quoting EK413 (Reply 13): Could BA probably receive the A380 sooner than expected considering QF have postponed delivery of the remaining 8 frames...?
This seems unlikely to me.
BA were originally expecting delivery of six 380s in 2012-13 (that is in the 12 months starting 1 April 2012) and the other six in 2013-14 . Now at BA's request the delivery schedule is four in 2013-14, three in each of 2014-15 and 2015-16 and two in 2016-17.
At the time BA detailed the above (May 2010) they were planning to bring two 744s back from the desert.
This is all illustrated om Slides 28 and 30 of their presentation to investors here:
Since this presentation they have returned two 744s that were parked at VCV to service. A third (then unplanned) 744 was ferried from VCV to CWL for major maintenance (a D Check) and the fitting of their new F Class cabin last June and will re-enter service in the near future. BA also have a further three 744s in the desert that could also be returned to active duty.
BA will also be accepting delivery of three new 77Ws in the next 5 months. (Here it is worth recognising that the three already in service are configured to carry up to 297 passengers while the BA Hi J configured 744s can only carry up to 291 passengers.)
Recognising all of the above the chances of BA trying to pull forward deliveries of the 380s on order look slim to me.
Eagleboy From Niue, joined Dec 2009, 1616 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 3473 times:
Quoting Babybus (Reply 1): Any idea if it will be a Airbus company aircraft or a SQ/QF bird?
I think an Airbus company aircraft would be a better PR move than an SQ bird. And why would BA pay another airline to borrow their aircraft when the manufacturer will provide one (maybe for free) as part of their continuing marketing campaign for the A380
lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 3379 times:
Quoting Eagleboy (Reply 20): And why would BA pay another airline to borrow their aircraft when the manufacturer will provide one (maybe for free) as part of their continuing marketing campaign for the A380
It would not need to pay if it took the QF bird. Its parked up right next to T5C most of the day
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2555 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3253 times:
Quoting EK413 (Reply 13): Could BA probably receive the A380 sooner than expected considering QF have postponed delivery of the remaining 8 frames...?
The deferred QF frames are 2014 onwards, so even if they just bump everyone up a couple of spots the difference won't be major. BA are due to take deliveries in 2013.
Quoting lhr380 (Reply 21): It would not need to pay if it took the QF bird. Its parked up right next to T5C most of the day
But there will be differences in the ways that BA/QF will service the aircraft, plus the lack of QF pilots to do the tests (they'll all be in their rest periods). Airbus will send a plane, engineers, pilots etc and will have everything on hand should there be any issues...
26 MANfan: As stated by '767eng' earlier, it is one of Airbus's own A380s in their house colours. It arrived today and spent the afternoon parked on stand 557 (T
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