Airbus A340-600 has weight problem

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Could be another big blow to Airbus

 

 

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Published: April 7, 2007 at 11:57 PM

Airbus A340-600 has weight problem

LONDON, April 7, 2007 (UPI) -- The troubled European aircraft manufacturer Airbus could face claims from airlines for a weight problem with its A340-600 plane.

Airbus advised airlines to reduce the amount of cargo carried in the plane because the first- and business-class sections are heavier than expected, The Times of London reported. The front of the plane is so heavy it can drag the nose down, interfering with the A340-600's aerodynamics.

 

If the airlines can show that the problem is Airbus' fault, they could sue for lost revenue. Airbus maintains that airlines loaded up the premium end of the plane with too many heavy amenities, including full-size beds and elaborate entertainment systems.

 

"As premium cabin interiors become more customized, the added weight of customization must also be taken into account as a factor in the overall loading of the aircraft," a spokesman said.

 

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2007...weight_problem/

 

 

 

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Opps, sorry for in the wrong forum...Moderator, could u please move this topic to General Aviation ?

 

Another article from Times Onlines :

 

From The TimesApril 7, 2007

 

Carriers ponder compensation claims against Airbus for overweight aircraftDavid Robertson, Business Correspondent

Airlines are considering suing Airbus after the aircraft manufacturer warned them that the front-end of the A340-600 was dangerously overweight, The Times has learnt.

 

The problem is caused by heavier than expected first and business-class areas and airlines have been told to reduce the amount of cargo they carry to rebalance the aircraft.

 

The first and business class sections on some A340600s are so heavy that they are pushing the jet’s nose down during flight, which can play havoc with the aerodynamics and potentially endanger passengers and crew. Flying nose down also increases drag off the wings and forces the aircraft to burn more fuel.

 

Airbus has recommended that airlines carry about five tonnes less cargo in the front of the plane to compensate, a reduction of nearly 10 per cent in its total cargo capacity.

 

Airbus says that the airlines are to blame for fitting premium cabins with full-sized beds, heavy furniture and weighty entertainment systems.

 

However, aviation sources have told The Times that a number of airlines are insisting that it is Airbus’s error. The airlines believe Airbus has incorrectly stated the maximum weight for front-end cabins and they are considering suing for lost cargo income.

 

Recent estimates show that a commercial airliner flying one tonne overweight costs the equivalent of 12 passengers everyday. Assuming that the A340600s are flying five tonnes overweight, each jet is losing income equivalent to 21,900 passengers a year.

 

If the airlines can prove their case, they could claim hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from Airbus.

 

The A340-600 is flown by numerous airlines with Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and Iberia operating the largest fleets. These airlines were unavailable for comment yesterday.

 

An Airbus spokesman said: “As premium cabin interiors become more customised, the added weight of customisation must also be taken into account as a factor in the overall loading of the aircraft. A heavier cabin in the front section where premium cabin products are normally placed therefore could reduce the cargo loading capacity in that section.”

 

The A340-600, at 75 metres, is longer even than the A380, and typically seats 380. Doug McVitie, the director of Arran Aerospace, said: “The A340-600 is a piece of spaghetti with wings. Anything heavy at the front will therefore throw off the centre of gravity and that causes all sorts of problems.”

 

 

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle1624119.ece

[H Azmal 0]

“The A340-600 is a piece of spaghetti with wings.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle1624119.ece

Been selling spaghettis all this while, no wonder their A380 is one tangled mess of noodles. hahahahah

[Mohd Idham 0]

Its not an easy task to design an aircraft guys.....even just a small as cessna 172......believe me, i've learn this kind of things....if there were a problems, its normal....nothing is perfect....

[KK Lee 5]

 

Off loading underbelly cargo or even luggage is a not uncommon practice. E.g. CA 752 operating PEK/KUL sector will off load pax luggage when the flight is full. Which is not amuse by pax.

 

For a long aircraft like 346, to balance the cg, load scarify is unavoidable especially if the front cabin is loaded with heavy IFE and seats. If the front cabin is full, airline don’t mind to off load under belly cargo, as the yield from the front cabin is more than offset the cargo.

 

Likewise, MH 772 has load restriction. A reason why EWR/DXB/KUL never made money even the aircraft is ‘full’.

 

Like man, aircraft tend to put on weight with age. But to get rib of weight is not an easy task.

 

 

[H Azmal 0]

Been selling spaghettis all this while, no wonder their A380 is one tangled mess of noodles. hahahahah

 

 

To the uninitiated, I was only harping on the choice of word i.e. from a language usage point of view. Thank you.

[Yusoff 1]

To the uninitiated, I was only harping on the choice of word i.e. from a language usage point of view. Thank you.

 

Their A380s are plagued with wiring problems, which, relatively like a tangled mess of noodles afterall... so, ur choice of word is nevertheless, perfect.. :D

[BC Tam 2]

To the uninitiated, I was only harping on the choice of word i.e. from a language usage point of view. Thank you.

Probably too late, you're likely to have contributed (positively, constructively or otherwise) to the ongoing A vs B battle and concurrently EC vs US trade war !!

[Pieter C. 5]

Etihad Air Seeks Loan To Finance Planes

 

May 2, 2007

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said on Wednesday it will seek to borrow USD$500 million to finance the purchase of aircraft, its second foray into the loan market this year.

 

"The request for proposals will be furnished this month to local and international banks," the airline's chief financial officer, James Rigney said. "We are open to both conventional and Islamic financing."

 

Etihad expects to arrange the 12 to 15-year loan by early July to buy four Airbus A340-600 aircraft, Rigney said from Dubai.

 

The airline said on Tuesday it agreed with Citigroup and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank to borrow USD$400 million to finance aircraft purchases.

 

Six other lenders, including Standard Chartered, Qatar National Bank and First Gulf Bank, helped arrange the loan, Etihad said.

 

(Reuters)