Airbus A330

 

Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is closely related to the four engines long range A340 with which it shares near identical systems, airframe, flightdeck and wings, the only major difference being the twin (versus four) engine configuration. Differences from the A340 aside from the number of engines are slight changes to the wing and internal systems, including fuel tankage.

Airbus A330-300 

The Airbus A330-300 is the basic model of the A330 family. The programme started in June 1987 and the first aircraft (F-WWKA) took off on November 2, 1992. During the test flight program in June 1994, an A330-300 crashed close to the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, when the pilots simulated an engine failure. Three crewmembers and four observators died.

Airbus A330-200

The Airbus A330-200 is the long range, shortened development of the standard A330-300, the only major difference being the fuselage length. Because of its decreased length the A330-200 features enlarged horizontal and vertical tail services. The first A330-200 is powered by General Electric CF6-80E1-engines, but the Pratt & Whitney powered variant was flown in December 1997, and the Rolls-Royce engined version flew June 24, 1998.

Airbus A330-200MRTT  (Multi-Role Tanker and Transport)

 One of the greatest attributes of the A330 as a tanker aircraft is its massive internal fuel capacity, the 111.000 kg / 122 tons of fuel is held in the wings which leaves the lower deck available for cargo. With underfloor tanks the fuel capacity can be further increased while retaining main deck cargo capacity or seating for strategic transport. The A330-200MRTT can be fitted with a variety of refueling options, from a new air refueling boom system developed by EADS or two wing pods, to a combination of wing pods and a centre fuselage refueling unit (hose and drogue) and/or boom system The Airbus A330-200MRTT is on order by Australia (RAAF) 5, and selected by the UK (RAF).

 

Developing nation: Europe.
Manufacturer/designer:  EADS - Airbus Industrie.
Production line: Toulouse - Blagnac, France.
   
Type aircraft: - A330-200 Long range widebody airliner.

- A330-300 Large capacity medium to long range airliner.

   
First flight:

- A330-300 November 2, 1992 (c/n.012) F-WWKA.

- A330-200 August 13, 1997 (c/n.181) F-WWKA.

First delivery:

- A330-300 December 30, 1993 to Air Inter.

- A330-200 April 30, 1998 to Canada 3000.

  Airbus A330-200
Cockpit crew: Two pilots.
Passengers two class:

- 30 business class.

- 263 economy class.

Passengers three class:

- 12 first class.

- 36 business class.

- 205 economy class.

Cabin length: 45,00 m.
Cabin diameter: 5,28 m.
Cabin height: 2,54 m.
Cargo volume:

- Under floor 136 m³.

LD3 Containers in belly: 26.

Standard 2.24m x 3.17m pallets:

- in belly 8 with 2 LD3 Containers.

Wing span: 60,30 m with winglets.
Wing area: 361,60 m².
Wing sweep: 30 degrees.
Fuselage length: 59,00 m.
Fuselage diameter: 5,64 m.
Height: 17,40 m.
Wheelbase: 22,20 m.
Track: 10,69 m.
Engines:

- Two General Electric CF6-80E1A4 rated 297.44 kN.

- Two Pratt & Whitney PW4168 rated 302.5 kN.

- Two Pratt & Whitney PW4174 rated ? kN.

- Two Rolls-Royce Trent 772 rated 315.9 kN.

Weight:

- Empty: 120.520 Kg.

- Max. zero-fuel weight:170.070 Kg.

- Fuel: 139.090 liter.

- Max. payload: 48.988 Kg.

Max. take off weight: 239.950 Kg.
Max. landing weight: 181.982 Kg.
Cruise speed: 860 km/h.
Max. speed: 880 km/h.
Service ceiling: 11.887 m.
Max. ceiling: 12.497 m.
Max. range: 13.057 km.

                                                        

 

 

  Airbus A330-300*
Cockpit crew: Two pilots.
Passengers two class:

- 30 business class.

- 305 economy class.

Passengers three class:

- 12 first class.

- 42  business class.

- 241 economy class.

Cabin length: 50,35 m.
Cargo volume:

- Under floor 162,80 m³.

LD3 Containers in belly: 32.
Standard 2.24m x 3.17m pallets:

- in belly 11 with 2 LD3 Containers.

Fuselage length: 63,65 m.
Height: 16,83 m.
Wheelbase: 25,60 m.
Engines:

- Two General Electric CF6-80E1A2 rated 287 kN.

- Two Pratt & Whitney PW4164 rated 284.68 kN.

- Two Pratt & Whitney PW4168 rated 302.5 kN.

- Two Pratt & Whitney PW4173 rated 324.8 kN.

- Two Rolls-Royce Trent 772 rated 315.9 kN.

Weight:

- Empty: 124.512 Kg.

- Max. zero-fuel weight:174.997 Kg.

- Fuel: 97.530 liter.

- Max. payload: 50.304 Kg.

Max. take off weight: 239.950 Kg.
Max. landing weight: 187.017 Kg.
Cruise speed: 861 km/h.
Max. speed: 926 km/h.
Max. range: 10.742 km.

                                                        * Generally similar to the Airbus A330-200 except in the following particulars.

 

 

Airbus A330 production:

 

Airbus A330, 315 built, 310 active, 51 on order, 1 stored and 4 written off  at November 2004.

 

 

Airbus A330 built of each variant:

4 - Airbus A330-201, GECF6-80E1A2.
15 - Airbus A330-202, GE CF6-80E1A4.
46 - Airbus A330-203, GE CF6-80E1A3.
4 - Airbus A330-222, PW4168.
50 - Airbus A330-223 PW4168A.
78 - Airbus A330-243, RR Trent 772B.
21 - Airbus A330-301, GE CF6-80E1A2.
6 - Airbus A330-302, GE CF6-80E1A4.
8 - Airbus A330-303, GE CF6-80E1A3.
12 - Airbus A330-321, PW4164.
24 - Airbus A330-322, PW4168.
34 - Airbus A330-323X, PW4168A.
8 - Airbus A330-341, RR Trent 768.
14 - Airbus A330-342, RR Trent 772.
48 - Airbus A330-343X, RR Trent 772B.

 

 

4 Airbus A330 written-off by accidents:

  • June 30, 1994.    F-WWKH    Airbus A330-321    Airbus Industrie    crashed close to the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, France when the pilots simulated an engine failure.    7 fatalities / 7 on board.

  • March 15, 2000.    9M-MKB    Airbus A330-322    Malaysia Airlines        at Kuala Lumpur IAP, Malaysia. Canisters contained with a chemical called "hydroxy quino-line" which is used for rust-proofing. Several canisters had leaked, causing severe damage to the aircraft fuselage. The airbus was considered damaged beyond repair.    0 fatalities / 266 on board.

  • July 24, 2001.    4R-ALE    Airbus A330-243    SriLankan Airlines    Tamil Tiger rebels launched a major pre-dawn suicide attack on Colombo-Bandaranayake IAP, Sri Lanka. destroyed this A330.    0 fatalities / 0 on board.

  • July 24, 2001.    4R-ALF    Airbus A330-243    SriLankan Airlines    Tamil Tiger rebels launched a major pre-dawn suicide attack on Colombo-Bandaranayake IAP, Sri Lanka. destroyed this A330.    0 fatalities / 0 on board.

 

 

Airbus A330 airline operators:

29 - Emirates.

3 - bmi British Midland.

26 - Cathay Pacific Airlines.

3 - Egyptair.

19 - Korean Air Lines. 3 - Eurofly.
18 - Northwest Airlines. 3 - Iberworld.
18 - Qatar Airways. 

3 - Livingston.

16 - Air France. 3 - MEA.
16 - Malaysia Airlines. 3 - My Travel Airways.
13 - Dragon Air. 3 - SN Brussels Airways. 
13 - Lufthansa. 2 - Air Caledonia International.
12 - Thai Airways International. 2 - Air Caraibes.
11 - Qantas. 2 - Air Madrid.
10 - Eva Air. 2 - Asiana Airlines.
10 - LTU. 2 - Corsair.
9 - US Airways. 2 - Monarch Airlines.
9 - Swiss. 2 - Cyprus Airways.
8 - Air Canada. 2 - Novair.
8 - Philippine Airlines. 2 - Star Airlines.
7 - Aer Lingus. 2 - Thomas Cook Airlines.
7 - Garuda Indonesia. 2 - Yemenia - Yemen Airways.
6 - Air Algerie. 1 - Air Greenland.
6 - China Airlines. 1 - Air Luxor.
6 - Etihad Airways. 1 - Edelweiss Air.
6 - Gulf Air. 1 - Skyservice Airways.
6 - TAM Linhas Aeras.  
4 - Air Transat.  
4 - Austrian Airlines.  
4 - China Southern Airlines.  
4 - My Travel.  
4 - SAS.  
4 - SriLankan Airlines.  

  

 

Airbus A330 military orders:

Royal Australian Air Force.

5 - A330-200MRTT