Image courtesy of Airbus

On the 14th March Airbus conducted flight testing with F-WWTN Airbus A330-941 (NEO) aircraft at Cork and Shannon Airports carrying out a number of simulated approaches and “Go Arounds” as part of the aircraft’ certification process.

The two test aircraft have logged more than 700 hours aloft in the 200-plus flights performed as of 10 April, according to A330neo aircraft integration and flight testing integrated product team (IPT) leader Jean-Christophe Bonjour.

On 18th April F-WMIL Airbus A350-1041 visited Shannon for crosswind training this aircraft perviously on 27 July 2017 performing one rejected take off (RTO) at Shannon before returning to Toulouse the same evening.

Shannon Airport has been extensively used by Airbus in the last year as part of certification with a number of different types visting D-AVXB Airbus A321-251N on 17 March and D-AVWA Airbus A319-151N on 11 September and D-AVXA Airbus A321-251N on 17 September. In 2006 the Airbus A380 was sent to Shannon specifically for cross-wind training as weather conditions in the area at the time where ideal.

On 26 January 2017 the Shannon Group plc has confirmed that it has lodged a planning application with Clare County Council for a new aircraft hangar at Shannon with the capability to accommodate multiple aircraft types up to an Airbus A380.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 22 April 2018 All Rights Reserved