Airbus has had its heavyweight Airbus A330-300 certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency yesterday, paving the way for the introduction of the latest variant of the Airbus A330.
Delta Airbus A330-300 242T Rolls out – Image, Airbus
This heavyweight variant of the A330-300 is rather important – least of all for its 242 tonne Maximum Take-off weight limit. As well as allowing for a higher take-off weight, it also updates the aerodynamic package, engine improvements and a 2% fuel reduction.
More importantly, this sets the foundation for the A330neo (new engine option) project, as Airbus will be using the A330 242T as is development base for the A330neo.
The first of the A330 242T’s will be an A330-300 powered by GE CF6 engines. Airbus will be working to certify its A330-200 aircraft (the range optimised version of the A330), along with engines from Rolls-Royce (Trent 700 engines) and Pratt & Whitney (The PW400 series engines).
With EASA certifying the A330-300 242T version, it now falls to the other major agency – the US Federal Aviation Administration to certify this heavyweight aircraft.
As you can see from the lovely picture provided by Airbus, Delta will be the first operator of this new variant of the A330 during 2015. A total of 11 operators have this updated on order.
It’s good to see aircraft evolve and change – showing there is life in a design that rolled out in 1992, and first flew commercially in 1994.
And with the A330neo on the horizon, the evolve and change. All those nips, tucks and changes will hopefully lead to improved performance and lower operating costs.
And for passengers – hopefully lower fares.
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