Tag Archives: Airbus A330-200F

Airbus’ Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) certified by EASA for A330 Family aircraft, Korean Air to be the first customer

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement:

Airbus has achieved EASA certification of its innovative Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) technology on A330 Family aircraft. This on-board cockpit technology, which Airbus has pioneered over several years, is now certified and available on all Airbus Families. ROPS is an alerting system which reduces exposure to runway overrun risk, and if necessary, provides active protection.

Korean Air will become the first A330 operator to implement ROPS on its A330s in service in the coming months.

This EASA certification of ROPS on the A330 marks a key milestone in making ROPS available for line-fit and retrofit to all Airbus models. ROPS was first approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on the A380 in October 2009 and to date is currently in service or ordered on most of the A380 fleet. ROPS is also part of the A350 XWB’s basic configuration, and in August 2013 was also certified for the A320 Family.

“Already in service on the A380, A350 and A320 Families, ROPS is the result of years of continuing research by Airbus,” said Didier Lux, Airbus’ SVP Head of Customer Services. He adds: “This EASA certification for ROPS on the A330 Family is an example where innovative technology and services meet for the benefit of operators and aviation safety, and is thus an important step to offering the enhanced operational benefits across all our aircraft.”

Runway excursion – meaning either an aircraft veering off the side of the runway, or overrunning at the very end – remains the primary cause of civil airliner hull losses, particularly as other formerly prevalent categories of aircraft accidents have now largely been eliminated. Furthermore, various industry bodies including the EASA, NTSB, Eurocontrol and FAA recognize this and are fully behind the introduction of effective measures by commercial aviation stakeholders to eliminate the risk of runway excursions.

Top Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-223F F-WWYE (msn 1004) banks over Toulouse.

Hainan Airlines starts Chongqing – Rome flights

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) initiated nonstop flight service between Chongqing and Rome on April 27, 2015. Flight HU 7991, the inaugural flight took off from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 1:30 am on April 27 Beijing Time and landed at Rome’s Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at 7:50 am local time. Rome has been added to the roster of Hainan Airlines’ destinations in Europe following Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Moscow and Saint Petersburg. As one of the gateway cities to western China, Chongqing now has its first direct flight to Western Europe.

On the afternoon of April 26, Hainan Airlines held a brief inaugural ceremony in Chongqing. When flight HU 7991 landed in Rome, airport staff greeted the passengers arriving from China with the traditional water cannon salute.

Photo Above: Hainan Airlines.

Following the opening of the Chongqing-Rome route, Hainan Airlines plans to shortly open several more international routes, including Beijing-San Jose, Shanghai-Boston and Shanghai-Seattle/Tacoma.

Hainan Airlines’ Chongqing-Rome route is serviced by the twin-aisle Airbus A330-200 capable of transporting 260 passengers.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 B-6089 (msn 919) arrives at the Beijing hub.

Hainan Airlines aircraft slide show:

Turkish Airlines orders four additional Airbus A330-200F freighters

Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) has signed a firm order for the purchase of four additional A330-200F freighter aircraft. Operated by Turkish Cargo, a brand of Turkish Airlines, the additional aircraft will help to further boost the company’s expansion in the cargo market.

Turkish Airlines already operates five A330-200F freighters (above), and the additional order will enable them to quickly meet the growing cargo market demand.

Turkish Airlines operates the largest Airbus fleet in Turkey with a total of 139 Airbus aircraft in service. These include 91 single aisle aircraft, two A310 freighters, 17 A330-200s, 18 A330-300s, five A330-200Fs and six A340s.

The A330-200F is capable of carrying a payload of 65 to 70 tons, with a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.

Turkish Airlines aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus A330-200F freighter at Farnborough

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) as the launch customer for the new A330-200F freighter, took ceremonial delivery of Airbus A330-243F A6-DCA (msn 1032) at the Farnborough International Air Show. The new aircraft will enter service with Etihad’s cargo business, Etihad Crystal Cargo in September of this year.

The aircraft will be on display throughout the air show, after which it will undertake final pre-delivery preparations by the manufacturer in Toulouse.

Airbus is awarded an European Type Certificate for the new A330-200F freighter

Airbus (Toulouse and Hamburg) has received its Type Certification for the A330-200F from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), paving the way for delivery startup of Airbus’ next-generation freighter this summer.

Certification comes as a result of the freighter’s successful 200-hour flight test campaign, which evaluated the aircraft’s handling qualities, performance and cargo capabilities. The trials were performed by two aircraft, each powered by one of the A330-200F’s two available engine types: the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 700.

In total, five of these mid-size freighters will be delivered in 2010. Total orders for the aircraft now stand at 66.

This dedicated freighter aircraft, which is derived from Airbus’ A330-200 passenger version, is now expected to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification in the coming weeks.

Over 3,400 freighters will be needed in the next 20 years to accommodate a 5.2 per cent average annual growth rate, according to Airbus’ 2009 Global Market Forecast. This will include around 1,600 mid-sized freighters, of which the A330-200F will play an important role.