As the A380 creeps closer to the USA, Brits wonder “why are there ash trays”?

by Grant Martin on

I’m sure that you’ve heard of the A380 by now, Airbus‘s super mega jumbo modern noah’s-ark behemoth of an aircraft, capable of carrying ten thousand passengers, flying around the world twelve times and curing myopia. It’s pretty sweet. And I mean that, it’s a magnificent creature.

I’ll bet you that many of you haven’t seen it in real life though, save for a few insiders in the industry and travelers in the South East Asian sector. Fact of the matter is, Singapore Airlines is the only customer with the aircraft right now and they aren’t flying the bird anywhere near our shores.

But they’re edging their way around the world. With delightful fanfare and general British hobknobbery the A380 made it’s first appearance in London last week and the redcoats are tickled pink. Swooning reviews are popping up left and right serenading the aircraft and telling us wild stories of how in business class they have two hooks for your coat on the seat in front of you. Two hooks! I could do anything with two hooks! They do go on to raise and answer an interesting question about ash trays though and why the heck modern airlines are still required to have them.

And honestly, I am looking forward to my first A380 flight, although unlike most reviewers I’ll probably be rolling like everyone else in cattle class. If you’d like to check out a review without the pleasure of the writer drooling all over himself though, check out The Cranky Flier’s experience.

Bad fuel pumps ground Singapore Air’s A380s

by Grant Martin on

It looks like the commercial Airbus A380s have hit their first snag. Singapore Airlines (SQ) announced today that it had to ground it’s only operational super jumbo because of an issue with the fuel pumps. Luckily the problem was detected while the aircraft was on the ground prior to departure and not sometime during transit.

SQ’s other A380 wasn’t rotated into the schedule because it was “undergoing maintenance.” No mention on this CNN article as to what that maintenance was, or whether or not it was related to the fuel pump.

As those in the know point out, however, what do you expect? With a new aircraft, new pilots and limited flight hours things are going to go wrong. It’s a good thing that enough checks are in place to rout out problems on the ground before they manifest in the skies.

Airbus A380 moves towards flying green

by Anna Brones on

Airplanes are not the world’s most eco-friendly commodity. To make amends with their carbon emissions, some airlines offer CO2 offsets for passengers. On Friday, Airbus took an even bigger step with its much talked about A380; it became the first commercial airline to fly with alternative fuel on a test flight from Filton, UK to Toulouse, France.

The fancy-schmancy A380 needs no modifications in order to use gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel which is mixed with 60% regular jet fuel. Although the GTL used is no cleaner in terms of CO2 emissions, it produces no sulfur, providing for better air quality. Using alternative fuel in a commercial airliner, even at a small percentage, is also symbolically important; GTL is the first step in moving towards biomass-to-fuel (BTL), which could be concocted with anything from wood chips to industrial hemp. Maybe one day we will see airplanes running on 100% renewable resources, until then Airbus is calling its alternative fuel friendly A380 the “gentle green giant.”

The first commercial use of GTL might be by Qatar Airways in 2009. Until then it might be better to consider other options for green travel.

Airbus A380 Panorama Cockpit View

by Kent Wien on

Pilots enjoy checking out new and unfamiliar cockpits. Maybe it’s because we’re still flying airplanes that were developed twenty or thirty years ago. In fact, it seems like we have to wait ten years at a time to see any new technology show up in the form of a new design.

So most of us have salivated over the 787 cockpit picture that hasn’t changed in a few years, and waited patiently for detailed images of the A380’s front office — but why not give us more to gawk at, Boeing and Airbus?

Well, someone listened. This panorama shot of the A380 cockpit really puts you in the ‘drivers’ seat.

Now if we could just get the same look at the 787. What do you say, Boeing? Throw us a bone while we wait on your beautiful Dreamliner!

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Join Kent at Cockpit Chronicles which takes you along on each of his trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston.

A380 is fit for a prince

by Catherine Bodry on

If you’re looking to spend some cash on a status symbol, don’t even bother with yesterday’s Jaguar and Concord — instead be the first on your block to own the new Airbus 380. Having one of these jumbo jets is on par with owning your own island, and probably about as expensive.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal spent an undisclosed amount (though companies spend more than $300 million) to be the first person to own an A380. Bin Talal is the 13th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with assets adding up to more than $20 billion.

Bin Talal hasn’t disclosed any plans for the jet, but really the sky is the limit. Dubbed the “Flying Palace,” the A380 has 5,930 sq. ft of floor space and can be outfitted with cocktail bars, casinos, showers and sleeping quarters.

What would you do with a jet this large?

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