Oh great, more Airbus fake rumors.

The A380 can be and is flown just like any other Airbus. The pilot lands it. The machines aren't taking over, stop watching the telly yeah?

And if you think flaring a jumbo once a month makes you proficient at hand flying, think again.

ex cathedra

i thought the 380 manual landing had been deemed a non-normal procedure and the plan was for automation to rule the roost......would be interested to know if this is not the case.

cheers

The aircraft can be flown and landed like any other Airbus. As far as I know Airbus does not recommend systematic autolands.

Now, if an airline decides its pilots aren't good enough and SOPs autolands, that's another issue, but as far as I'm aware, those are just unsubstantiated rumors.

Kitsune, Have you?

Not sure where some of you are coming from with these automated Airbus ideas. I flew with the Airbus instructors when Dragonair first got the A320 back in 1993 and they were all enthusiastic about the automation - but it doesn't mean you have to fly them like that. They fly like any other aircraft when the automation is turned off, and I am sure the A380 will be the same. In fact that is the main point with Airbuses - they are all so similar.

Skill Level 5
 

I read somewhere when the 380 first came out, that you had to be rated on an Airbus type other than the 380 if you want to fly the 380. Is that or was that the case ?

FG

I am furtunate enough to fly the 380 and not remotely interested in getting into a Boeing versus Airbus mud slinging match.
I will, however, say this. If CX gets the 380 then from a pilot's perspective you can consider yourself VERY lucky should you get onto the fleet. The aircraft is an absolute pleasure to operate.
For the record, every one of my landings has been manual.

Regarding 5 greens question, I don't know if Airbus stipulated that. But I'm sure cost would play a significant factor. Far cheaper to put Airbus rated crew through a short course than Boeing pilots through a full conversion. Our airline used 330/340 crew. I believe that SQ used some 747 drivers but stand to be corrected.

Can you fly the A380 and the A300 or A340 at the same time?

I could see that happening, cx would have you ccq'd on all 3 types.... my brain would explode :bored:

Ultimately up to the local aviation authourity as to weather you can MFF but I think the short answer is no. We are only rated on the 380

the HKCAD is owned by CX , so getting you ccq'd on all 3 wouldn't be a problem ....

As there has been a fair bit of rubbish written on this thread, let's get some terms correct. CCQ refers to the conversion course, which can be shorter if converting from another Airbus type. MFF is mixed fleet flying, which has been in place with CX for well over ten years. Whilst technically there has been only two types, A330 & A340 MFF, this was, in effect three types with the A340-600. So heads have been exploding for many years. If CX ever gets the A380, CCQ would probably apply and MFF may. This would depend on many things.

Was that when they came to HK on that promotional asian tour with the aircraft in 2007? (when it lost its wing fences in KUL...)

I think the autoland question was asked to that test pilot then.

And no, I've never flown it, but I kind of keep an enthusiastic eye on the program and would love to operate it someday.
We got the definitive answer from the horse's mouth anyhow.:)

I went to that briefing, yes the question was asked and the test pilot laughed and said he'd heard the rumour but it was complete crap and the A380 was like any other Airbus, but improved as you'd expect.

Rumour has it that CX is assessing the viability of acquiring some deferred 380 orders from Emirates. With nearly all of our major competitors buying them, it would seem likely that we would acquire a few at some point.

According to LR we will have an annoucment in about 2 weeks:D

Once they see SQ's aircraft operating daily into HK from tomorrow (9th), they won't be able to resist the temptation.

Five Green - At one time Airbus said that pilots going to Toulouse to convert to the A380 as part of the package, "We will train so many crews per aircraft bought" sort of thing, should have previous Airbus experience. I have no idea if they pushed that through or dropped the scheme altogether.

Many SQ A380 crews came from the jumbo.

Who is LR?