Article: How classy will the A380 be?

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needaholiday

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Article in the Sydney Morning Herald, says Qantas will be opting fro a 'sub-500' layout in their A380's, with onboard lounge access for WHY pax.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/how-classy-will-the-a380-be/2005/11/18/1132016935933.html

QANTAS this week launched itself into a "space war" with its key competitors, such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines, promising that its new flagship super-jumbo, the Airbus A380, would revolutionise its first-class cabin, "enhance" the new sleeper-bed product in business class and reverse the trend in which economy-class seating space has been gradually squeezed over the past decade.

Now, however, following Singapore Airlines' announcement that its new A380 would have only 480 seats, Qantas has announced that its final definition will also have fewer than 500.

It had always been expected that Qantas' most lucrative customers at the pointy end would get the lion's share of the lounges and bars that have been a key part of Airbus' spruiking for the new plane. From the little Qantas is now saying - it won't unveil the details for some time because its first A380 doesn't arrive until April 2007 - economy customers will also have "access" to lounge areas.
 
A fantastic article.

That snippet posted above is only a fraction of the full article - well worth a read of the full article.

It's time to get excited. :D
 
Airbus says a trial evacuation of its A380 plane was a success despite 33 volunteers suffering injuries...

Volunteers injured in A380 drill

One man broke his leg and another 32 people suffered minor injuries during an emergency evacuation drill of the new A380 superjumbo in Germany.

Plane owner Airbus said the exercise - a key step which the A380 must take to prove its airworthiness - was a "great success" despite the injuries. About 850 passengers were successfully evacuated from the plane in 80 seconds.

European and US regulators will reveal on Monday whether the drill met their safety requirements.

Key milestone

The drill is a key milestone on the road to certifying the plane for public use - which Airbus hopes to do by the end of 2006.

It has so far sold 159 A380s to 16 airlines, with the first due to go into service next year.

Officials from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration Agency were present at Sunday's drill, which took place in Hamburg.

"That was a very great success," said Gustav Humbert, Airbus' managing director said of the exercise, despite the injuries.

The drill took place in an aircraft hangar in Hamburg, the site of one the company's largest factories.

"The initial impression is that the test went very well," EASA spokesman Daniel Hoeltgen said.

There was huge interest in the exercise and Airbus was inundated with volunteers wanting to take part, most from the local area.

This was despite the fact that none of the participants were paid and previous evacuation drills of civilian aircraft have resulted in serious injuries to volunteers.

KEY DRILL REQUIREMENTS
650 passengers taking part
Lights will be out in cabin
Half of exits will be closed
Drill must feature 40% women, 35% people over 50
Passengers will not be told which exits are in use
Passengers must wear their seat belts

The success of the exercise will determine the number of passengers that the aircraft can legally carry.

Although the A380 has room for 853 passengers, Airbus' first customers - including Singapore Airlines and Emirates - intend to carry only 650 passengers.

If required, Airbus will conduct a second drill early next month.

In the dark

The practice drill proved a nerve-wracking exercise for those taking part as well as those watching.

The passengers had 90 seconds to get out of their seats and to exit the aircraft by one of the eight exits available - the A380 has 16 exits but half of these were closed off.

The drill took place in the dark and passengers had to contend with luggage, blankets, pillows and other debris strewn across the aisles.

Those sitting in the upper tier of the twin-deck plane found themselves 26 feet off the ground, although emergency slides had been put in place before the exercise began.

To make the drill as realistic as possible, the volunteers represented a broad-cross section of the population in terms of age and sex.

About 40% of those taking part were women, while 35% had to be over the age of 50.

Three life-size dolls were carried on board to represent children under two-years old.

The A380 completed its maiden flight last year but Airbus had to drop plans for an evacuation drill in 2005 because of technical problems.
 
Interesting that they say it will be less than 500 seats, given their proclamations that it would set a record for the longest 500 seat service. They may need to rework that!
 
What I find interesting is the concept of economy lounges. Not sure of exact figures but assume 350-400 Y PAX, the lounges wont be very big, how will they govern their use? Will there be a mad rush as soon as the seat belt sign is off?

Also which such a large aircraft, and so many PAX, people will be free to move around between common area's, am I being paranoid or does that represent greater ability or opportunity for security breaches? :shock:

JJ
 
The lounges could well be turned into Qantas Clubs with access the same as for land based lounges, would make a perfect venue for a FF event :eek:
 
Hopefully, WPs will be able to access to the First Class lounges...

:eek:)

JOBU
 
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Lindsay Wilson said:
Airbus says a trial evacuation of its A380 plane was a success despite 33 volunteers suffering injuries...

Not too bad given this is an emergency evacuation test in the dark. I'd be happy to get away with a broken leg if I am out quick enough to avoid the fire...

BTW and slightly OT- As a WP I think the airlines need to find a way so that status can be taken into account for any evacuations. You need to make sure the best customers survive to fly another day :)
 
duffshot said:
BTW and slightly OT- As a WP I think the airlines need to find a way so that status can be taken into account for any evacuations. You need to make sure the best customers survive to fly another day :)

The most practical way would be to have swipe card access to the best escape slides. Alternatively, a smartgate facility. Of course, in the event of a technical malfunction, there would need to be a backup Slide Dragon at each exit. But on the whole, I see no reason why your idea would not fly. :twisted:
 
Bob said:
duffshot said:
BTW and slightly OT- As a WP I think the airlines need to find a way so that status can be taken into account for any evacuations. You need to make sure the best customers survive to fly another day :)

The most practical way would be to have swipe card access to the best escape slides. Alternatively, a smartgate facility. Of course, in the event of a technical malfunction, there would need to be a backup Slide Dragon at each exit. But on the whole, I see no reason why your idea would not fly. :twisted:

Are you familiar with the term "The peasants are revolting!"

Well I'm pretty sure they would be :!: 8) :roll:
 
Bob said:
duffshot said:
BTW and slightly OT- As a WP I think the airlines need to find a way so that status can be taken into account for any evacuations. You need to make sure the best customers survive to fly another day :)

The most practical way would be to have swipe card access to the best escape slides. Alternatively, a smartgate facility. Of course, in the event of a technical malfunction, there would need to be a backup Slide Dragon at each exit. But on the whole, I see no reason why your idea would not fly. :twisted:

Well I'm stuffed, my QF Plat card nevers swipes! Up to the third card now. No other cards failing in wallet.
 
straitman said:
Bob said:
duffshot said:
BTW and slightly OT- As a WP I think the airlines need to find a way so that status can be taken into account for any evacuations. You need to make sure the best customers survive to fly another day :)

The most practical way would be to have swipe card access to the best escape slides. Alternatively, a smartgate facility. Of course, in the event of a technical malfunction, there would need to be a backup Slide Dragon at each exit. But on the whole, I see no reason why your idea would not fly. :twisted:

Are you familiar with the term "The peasants are revolting!"

Well I'm pretty sure they would be :!: 8) :roll:
Whatever happens let's hope it goes in nose first and the only exits usable are the rear exits! :) Save the people worthy of being saved first!
 
I was thinking the top floor should be for WPs with interlocks on the bottom floor exits so they don't open until all the WPs have been safely evacuated and seted in a safe area with an HP
 
straitman said:
Are you familiar with the term "The peasants are revolting!"

Well I'm pretty sure they would be :!: 8) :roll:
Not all are revolting. Some of them pretty nice chaps :D .
 
straitman said:
Are you familiar with the term "The peasants are revolting!"

Now come on, they aren't that bad - unpleasant and unattractive maybe, but revolting is a bit strong.

Dave
 
NM said:
straitman said:
Are you familiar with the term "The peasants are revolting!"

Well I'm pretty sure they would be :!: 8) :roll:
Not all are revolting. Some of them pretty nice chaps :D .

I should have read the whole threadd before I replied!

Dave
 
thadocta said:
I should have read the whole threadd before I replied!

Dave
Yes, an old Goon Show gag from the 50's. And probably goes back way before that as well.
 
Oops :!:

Forgot that I'm going to be one of them this weekend. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

My first real back of the bus (ie Y) trip in a 747 since 1982 :!:

:roll: :? :( :cry: :evil: :twisted:
 
duffshot said:
We'll be thinking of you in your struggle straitman

And that would be the struggle to get past the Slide Dragon to the swipe card reader that will give you access to the escape slide after the interlocks have released - only when the last of the WPs has leisurely decamped from the sinking plane...
 
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