Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Airbus A380 passes emergency evacuation test
The emergency evacuation test in Hamburg at the weekend was deemed a success by the European Aviation and Safety Agency (EASA) and the American Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. The evacuation test was the most challenging ever done with an aircraft and the first one ever attempted on a double deck aircraft.
It was completed in 87 seconds. The goal was to be faster than 90 seconds. Only half of the aircraft emergency doors were working and crew and passengers were unaware which ones wouldn't be available beforehand. Just to make it even more interesting it was all done in a dark hangar.
The Airbus A380 is now certified to carry 853 passengers, although the current orders are only to seat about 550 passengers. Emirates have been asking the question though - "What if we fitted them out to carry 850 and entered the long haul low cost market?"
It was completed in 87 seconds. The goal was to be faster than 90 seconds. Only half of the aircraft emergency doors were working and crew and passengers were unaware which ones wouldn't be available beforehand. Just to make it even more interesting it was all done in a dark hangar.
The Airbus A380 is now certified to carry 853 passengers, although the current orders are only to seat about 550 passengers. Emirates have been asking the question though - "What if we fitted them out to carry 850 and entered the long haul low cost market?"
