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Airbus A380 completes test flight | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An Airbus A380 super-jumbo has landed back in southern France to complete its first test flight with passengers. | |
With 474 Airbus staff filling seats in first, business and economy class, they tested everything from the plane's televisions to its toilets. | |
The seven-hour flight is due to be the first of four this week designed to check all the A380's on-board services. | The seven-hour flight is due to be the first of four this week designed to check all the A380's on-board services. |
Airbus also said that it was replacing the head of the A380 project, which has been hit by delay problems. | Airbus also said that it was replacing the head of the A380 project, which has been hit by delay problems. |
It said Charles Champion is to be replaced by Mario Heinen, the current boss of the A320 plane. | It said Charles Champion is to be replaced by Mario Heinen, the current boss of the A320 plane. |
'Human feedback' | 'Human feedback' |
A total of 1,900 Airbus employees have been selected for this week's test flights. | A total of 1,900 Airbus employees have been selected for this week's test flights. |
The A380 has two full floors of seating | The A380 has two full floors of seating |
Their names were picked at random from the 15,000 staff who applied for the mission from Airbus offices around the world. | Their names were picked at random from the 15,000 staff who applied for the mission from Airbus offices around the world. |
"These four test flights with real passengers will give us human feedback on life on board this plane which can do distances of up to 15,000 kilometres [9,300 miles]," said chief test pilot Jacques Rosay. | "These four test flights with real passengers will give us human feedback on life on board this plane which can do distances of up to 15,000 kilometres [9,300 miles]," said chief test pilot Jacques Rosay. |
Mr Champion's departure is the latest problem to befall the A380 programme since it was announced in June that the first deliveries would be delayed by six months because of a problem with the plane's wiring. | Mr Champion's departure is the latest problem to befall the A380 programme since it was announced in June that the first deliveries would be delayed by six months because of a problem with the plane's wiring. |
The delay has already led to the resignation of former Airbus chief executive Gustav Humbert. | The delay has already led to the resignation of former Airbus chief executive Gustav Humbert. |
It also contributed to the departure of Noel Forgeard, the then co-chief executive of Airbus' main parent company EADS. | It also contributed to the departure of Noel Forgeard, the then co-chief executive of Airbus' main parent company EADS. |
Mr Forgeard departed after he was accused deliberately selling EADS shares before the delays to the A380 were announced to the markets, something he denies. | Mr Forgeard departed after he was accused deliberately selling EADS shares before the delays to the A380 were announced to the markets, something he denies. |
Possible sale | Possible sale |
The first deliveries of the A380 will be made in December to Singapore Airlines. | The first deliveries of the A380 will be made in December to Singapore Airlines. |
So far 16 airlines have ordered 159 of the aircraft. | So far 16 airlines have ordered 159 of the aircraft. |
Airbus employs a total of 57,000 people around the globe. | Airbus employs a total of 57,000 people around the globe. |
In the UK it has a workforce of 13,000 people who design and build the wings for its planes across two main sites - Broughton in north Wales and Filton near Bristol. | In the UK it has a workforce of 13,000 people who design and build the wings for its planes across two main sites - Broughton in north Wales and Filton near Bristol. |
While EADS owns 80% of Airbus, the other 20% stake is currently in the hands of UK defence and aerospace group BAE Systems. | While EADS owns 80% of Airbus, the other 20% stake is currently in the hands of UK defence and aerospace group BAE Systems. |
However, BAE Systems is currently exploring a possible sale of its share in Airbus. | However, BAE Systems is currently exploring a possible sale of its share in Airbus. |