A380 routes

[flames]

Is there any way I can find out which routes the new A380 is going to take ?
I'm out in Australia, and I'm just thinking of scheduling my next return back to Blighty.

[apaddyinuk]

I hope your not planning on returning back for two years at least....the first one isnt even in the air yet!
Put im sure if you send off an email to qantas/emirates or singapore customer relations they should be able to give you a rough estimate of when they hope to be operating the aircraft on the european - australian routes!!!!

[Chambudzi]

The first six 380 aircraft off the Airbus line are going to SIA.
SIA is going to put them on the Singapore/London route initially and their second destination is intended to be Sydney so long as the Ausie/Syd airport authority gets on with preparing the bays to accept the aircraft in time.
Delivery of aircraft depends on Airbus who seem to be a bit behind right now.

[WHBM]

Routes with multiple daily 747s at present are a good guess, when the aircraft turns up in a few years time. So for Qantas routes to London and Los Angeles will absorb much of the initial A380 fleet. Likewise for other operators.

[tgdxb]

what an impressive animal!
I do like its look from the front more than from aside.

Does anyone know how the selection of the first crews is done at each airline, on what criteria they would be selected & how many crews per operating a/c?

Then how is training planned & organised, from the beginning? Given the maiden flight is only in a couple of days I guess no data exists yet for flight simulator algorithms. So is sim trg based on flight envelope from design board & other models w/ similar flight envelope?

[Kestrel_909]

Given the maiden flight is only in a couple of days I

31st March is only a couple of days? Roll out offically is on Tuesday but the first flight isn't until 31st March to my knowledge.

[41plus]

Is it me or does it look like a snail without a shell?

Escargo

[FlyboyBen]

tgdxb!

I think I am right in saying that the cockpits and controls of modern day Airbuses are virtually the same therefore it is relatively easy for a pilot to transfer between types. Obviously the handling characteristics of a 319 will be different to a 340 but the controls will be almost identical.

In the case of the 380, I imagine most airlines will select from their existing 330 and 340 drivers to make the quick transistion!!!

FBB

[scroggs]

Virgin's initial A380 pilots are volunteers from the A340 fleet. B747 pilots wishing to transfer to the A380 will have to complete at least a year on the A340 first. Volunteers will be selected by seniority and will need to be able to offer the airline some 3 to 5 years of service once converted.

While Airbus flight decks are similar in the A320-A340 series of aircraft, the technology under the skin can be quite different - the A340-300 and -600 series aircraft are a case in point, where there are considerable differences in the flight deck switchery on some systems. The A380 is quite a different animal, though the Airbus flight deck and flight control philosophy is strongly evident.

Most long haul airlines use around 8 or 9 crews per aircraft. The A380, like other extreme-range aircraft, may need higher crewing ratios for many of its sectors.