AIRBUS A380 structural certification

A380 CERTIFICATION


The A380’s certification flight test programme was one of the most extensive in Airbus’ history. The campaign began with the aircraft’s first flight on 27 April 2005 and ended on 30 November the following year with the successful around-the-world technical route-proving trip, which took the aircraft over both poles, testing its performance under normal airline operations. To obtain its Type certification, the A380 needed 5,000 hours of test flights.
Certification by the two major international governing bodies – the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – was granted upon successful completion of a stringent trial programme which pushed the airframe and aircraft systems well beyond design limits to ensure the A380 meets – or even exceeds – all airworthiness criteria. The A380 was the first aircraft to which 21st century certification standards were applied.
Five aircraft were involved in the intensive flight test programme, four of which have Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines and one is powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. By certification, the test fleet had accumulated over 2,600 flight hours in 800 flights, with over 80 airline and certification pilots having flown the aircraft. During the campaign, the A380 was also welcomed at 38 airports around the world, proving its easy airport acceptance and compatibility.
The cabin also underwent a series of tests for certification, including the successful evacuation test, performed at Airbus’ Hamburg site on 26 March 2006. During what was the largest ever aircraft evacuation trial, 853 passengers and 20 crew members left the aircraft within 78 seconds - 12 seconds less than required, validating 853 as the maximum passenger seating capacity for the A380-800.
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In addition to flight test success, further highlights of the A380’s entry into service included airport compatibility trials, with a total of 38 airports visited around the globe demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to operate just like existing large aircraft.
Although not required for certification, but part of Airbus’ commitment to smooth entry into service, Airbus undertook a series of four Early Long Flights in September 2006 where over 2,000 Airbus employees took part to assess the cabin environment and systems in flight.
These followed a 15 hour Virtual Long Flight which took place in Hamburg in May 2006 in Hamburg, where 474 Airbus employees tested cabin systems in simulated long haul conditions.