Cathay Pacific's new fleet offers wide range of benefits

TOULOUSE, France (JP): The US$127 million super long-range Airbus A340-300 aircraft that Cathay Pacific has chosen for its nonstop long-range routes promise a wide range of benefits.

Technology for the new A340 and A330 series has been derived from standard Airbus A300 technology which was developed over 20 years ago.

Both new planes use a fly-by-wire system, which means electronic signals connect the pilot's controls with the wings' and tail's moving parts. This replaces the traditional system of mechanical rods, wires and pulleys.

To control the aircraft, pilots use "sidesticks", which look similar to car gear levers, instead of traditional control columns. Two-pilot crews read commands and functions on computer screens.

"The pilot is still always in command. He can override the computers at any time and convert the airbus back to a basic aircraft," said Rick Fry, Cathay's Airbus fleet manager.

The A340-300 aircraft's cabins contain 261 seats (12 in first class, 28 in business class and 221 in economy class), 10 galleys, nine lavatories and 11 stowages.

The A330 and A340 are the latest generation of passenger aircraft to be developed by Airbus Industrie.

Based in Toulouse, Airbus Industrie is a consortium owned by Europe's leading aircraft manufacturers: Aerospatiale of France and Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus each own 37.9 percent, British Aerospace owns 20 percent and CASA of Spain owns 4.2 percent.

The A330's and A340's wings are virtually the same. The only visible difference is that the A330 has two big engines and the A340 has four smaller ones. The A330 is intended to replace the 17 aging TriStars which service shorter range Asia-Pacific flights.

The new planes' parts are built in factories across Europe. British Aerospace builds the wings, CASA the tails, Deutche Aerospace Airbus the main fuselages and Aerospatiale the flight decks and front fuselages.

"If you walk right from the cockpit down to the back cabin, you will feel like traveling in Europe," said Sean Lee, Airbus' public relations manager.

Flown to Toulouse in special freighters, the parts are assembled in the 60,000 square meter Clement Eder hangar. Most of the assembly work is completed by robots there.

According to Lee, the A340 is highly economical and environmentally friendly. It burns 40 percent less fuel per seat than a Boeing 747 thus saving money and minimizing air pollution, he said.

The aircraft's CFM engines are said to be extremely quiet, adding passenger comfort and lowering noise pollution on the ground.

Airbus industrie claims the A330 aircraft are highly fuel efficient. Its fuel consumption is said to be the same as the A300 although it can carry 100 more passengers.

"Lower trip costs are an increasingly vital yard stick in the current airline environment," Fry said.

The A340 aircraft was first tested in 1993, flying from Paris to Auckland in 21 hours and 32 minutes. After a five hour break, it flew back to Paris in 21 hours and 46 minutes.

The aircraft's four CFM56-5C engines used 117 of its 124.4 tons of fuel for the 19,100 kilometer journey from Paris to Auckland.

Established in 1970, Airbus Industrie has grown to become the world's second largest aircraft maker after Boeing with a turnover of US$9.6 billion last year. Its main market is the Asia-Pacific region.

According to company data, Airbus Industrie has so far received 2,068 orders from 123 customers worldwide and has delivered 1,407 aircraft. It has 1,382 aircraft in service with 126 operators. (pan)