newstodate.aero
Oct 6, 2006 (newstodate): With the general delay in Airbus A380 deliveries, now pushed back a further 12 months, the A380 freighter program will be affected, too.
According to Airbus sources, the first delivery of the A380F will now take place in 2010 against 2008 as promised earlier.
Airbus' CEO Christian Streiff has, however, said that the time of first delivery could be pushed forward to 2009, if warranted by customer commitment.
No revised first-flight date has yet been announced, while 2007 was the original deadline.
In the original plans, the first A380F aircraft would enter the Airbus final assembly line by the third quarter of 2006.
Two aircraft will be dedicated to the freighter certification process, one being the MSN 037 to be fitted with heavy flight test equipment, and the MSN 053 that will be fitted with light flight test equipment and perform the actual certification flights.
So far Airbus has landed 27 firm orders for the 150 tonnes capacity A380 freighter, but Emirates later converted its two A380F ordered into passenger aircraft.
FedEx, with orders for 10 A380F, will be the first to receive the mega-freighter.
Other A380F orders include 10 for UPS, and five for IFLC.
According to Airbus sources, the first delivery of the A380F will now take place in 2010 against 2008 as promised earlier.
Airbus' CEO Christian Streiff has, however, said that the time of first delivery could be pushed forward to 2009, if warranted by customer commitment.
No revised first-flight date has yet been announced, while 2007 was the original deadline.
In the original plans, the first A380F aircraft would enter the Airbus final assembly line by the third quarter of 2006.
Two aircraft will be dedicated to the freighter certification process, one being the MSN 037 to be fitted with heavy flight test equipment, and the MSN 053 that will be fitted with light flight test equipment and perform the actual certification flights.
So far Airbus has landed 27 firm orders for the 150 tonnes capacity A380 freighter, but Emirates later converted its two A380F ordered into passenger aircraft.
FedEx, with orders for 10 A380F, will be the first to receive the mega-freighter.
Other A380F orders include 10 for UPS, and five for IFLC.