Airbus A310

A310
An A310, gear and flaps extended, from Air Transat, its largest operator
Role Wide-body jet airliner
National origin Multi-national[1]
Manufacturer Airbus
First flight 3 April 1982 (3 April 1982)
Introduction April 1983 with Swissair
Status In service
Primary users Air Transat
Mahan Air
FedEx Express
Produced 1983–1998
Number built 255[2]
Developed from Airbus A300
Variants Airbus A310 MRTT
Airbus CC-150 Polaris

The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engined wide-body jet airliner that was developed and manufactured by Airbus. Entering service in 1983, it was the second aircraft to enter production by Airbus,Note 1 the consortium of European aerospace companies now a subsidiary of Airbus. The A310 is a derivative of the Airbus A300, the first twin-engined widebody airliner.

Development

Background

During the development of the original Airbus A300, a range of aircraft size and capacity were studied; the resulting Airbus A300B was one of the smaller options. When the A300B1 prototypes emerged, a number of airlines asked for greater capacity, which resulted in the initial production A300B2 version. As the A300 entered service, it became increasingly apparent that there was also a sizable market for a smaller aircraft; some operators did not have enough traffic to justify the relatively large A300, while others wanted more frequency or lower aircraft-mile costs at the expense of higher seat-mile cost (specifically Swissair and Lufthansa).[3]

Airbus reduced the Research & Development costs of a smaller A300 to a minimum, studying several early projects called A300B10MC (Minimum Change). Capacity was reduced to 220 passengers, which was then a desired capacity from many airlines. However, this would result in a small fuselage mated to a comparatively large wing and oversized undercarriage, which would make the aircraft burn unnecessarily more fuel as it carries more weight.

Another problem was the rate of inflation, which in the UK, during 1979–80, was 35%. This would significantly raise the development costs, and thus the cost of the final product.[4] During the A300's development, Hawker Siddeley Aviation was the subcontractor for the aircraft's wing, after the British government withdrew from the newly formed venture in 1969. HSA subsequently merged with three other companies in 1977 to form British Aerospace (BAe), and by then, the British government had indicated its intentions to rejoin the programme. However, British Airways (BA) and Rolls-Royce did not relinquish their will to collaborate with the Americans, and, in BA's case, buy US aircraft. BA wanted to buy 7N7 and 7X7, which would develop into the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767, with the latter an intended rival to the upcoming A310, as well as the Boeing 747. The French government started talks in May 1976, saying that an order from BA was a condition for re-admission of the UK into Airbus Industrie as a full partner. As this went on, BAe held talks with Boeing and McDonnell Douglas to see if it (BAe) could participate in future programmes, although the company's chairman, Lord Beswick, publicly stated that the aim was really to collaborate in Europe.[5] At the 1978 Farnborough Air Show, Eric Varley, the British Secretary of State for Industry, announced that BAe wished to rejoin the Airbus Industrie as a full partner from 1 January 1979. This would mean BAe would be allocated 20% shareholding and would play "a full part in the development and manufacturing of the A310".[6]

Design effort

The prototype Airbus A310-200 at Düsseldorf Airport in 1982, featuring the liveries of Swissair (left) and Lufthansa (right), the first two airlines which had placed orders.[6]
In 1988 the A310 was delivered to Interflug: the first Airbus to be delivered to an Eastern-bloc airline.

From late 1977, before the Varley announcement, BAe started work on the new wing at Hatfield. Simultaneously, Aérospatiale, MBB (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) and VFW-Fokker held their individual studies into the new wing.

At the April 1978 Hanover Air Show, Airbus exhibited a model A310. Its wing area, at 219.25 m2 (2,360.0 sq ft) was slightly larger than that studied, at 209 m2 (2,250 sq ft); its passenger cabin was 12 frames shorter than the A300,Note 2 accommodating typical passenger loads of 195 in two-class, or 245 in economy.[6] However, during the next 12 months, almost every aspect was further refined. On 9 June 1978, Swissair and Lufthansa developed a joint specification for the aircraft, and within a month, announced that they would place the launch orders. On 15 March, Swissair became the first airline to place a firm order for the type, announcing that it would acquire 10 with a further 10 under option to replace its McDonnell Douglas DC-9s on its major intra-European routes. Lufthansa quickly placed a $240 million 10-aircraft order. Air France and Iberia shortly followed.[6]

The increasingly strong interest in the aircraft, coupled with the recovery of the industry in the late 1970s, led Airbus to launch the A300B10, now known as the A310, into production on 7 July 1978. On 1 April 1979 Lufthansa raised its commitment to 25 orders and 25 options. Two days later, KLM signed its order for 10 orders and 10 options at ₤238 million.[6][7][8] On 6 July 1979 Air France raised its order from 4 to 35. Other airlines announcing orders for the A310 during 1979 included Martinair, Sabena and Air Afrique.[7][8]

Initially, two versions of the A310 were planned, the regional A310-100 and the transcontinental A310-200. The A310-100 had a range of 2,000 nmi (3,700 km) with 200 passengers, whilst the -200 had a higher MTOW and centre section fuel, and could carry the same load a further 1,000 nmi (1,900 km).[9] Basic engines offered included the General Electric CF6-45B2 and Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4. Rolls Royce at one time considered offering an engine for the A310 but dropped the program.

Production

The range of the A310 exceeds that of the A300 series with the exception of the A300-600R, which surpasses that of the A310-200. The A310's greater range has led to the aircraft being used extensively on transatlantic routes. The A300 and A310 introduced the concept of commonality: A300-600 and A310 pilots can cross-qualify for the other aircraft with one day of training.

Sales of the A310 continued and by the time the prototype A310-200 aircraft made its first flight on 3 April 1982, orders and options for 181 aircraft had been placed by 15 airlines worldwide, a somewhat better start than that of the original A300. It was clear that the longer-range series −200 aircraft was the more popular aircraft and Airbus decided in 1979 to stop offering the low gross weight series A310-100 (originally proposed for Lufthansa), none of which were built.[7]

Demand for the aircraft began to slacken and there were no new A310 passenger orders during the late 1990s, due to the introduction of the advanced technology Airbus A330; the last A310 delivery was in June 1998. The A310 (along with the A300) officially ceased production in July 2007, though an order from Iraqi Airways for five A310s remained on the books until July 2008. The remaining freighter sales were to be fulfilled by the new A330-200F derivative.[10]

The A310 was marketed as an introduction to widebody operations for developing airlines. The A310 was replaced in Airbus' lineup by the highly successful A330-200, which shares its fuselage cross-section. Between 1983 and the last aircraft produced in 1998, 255 A310s were delivered.[2]

The A300 and A310 established Airbus as a competitor to Boeing and allowed it to go ahead with the more ambitious A320 and A330/A340 families.

As of July 2016, 47 A310s remain in commercial service; major operators are Air Transat and Mahan Air with 9 aircraft each; Fedex Express (8) and Pakistan International Airlines (4), another 9 airlines operate 17 aircraft between them.[11]

The Royal Canadian Air Force currently operates a fleet of 5 Airbus CC-150 Polaris, civilian Airbus A310-300s, originally owned by Wardair, and subsequently Canadian Airlines International, after the airlines merged. The aircraft were then sold to the Canadian Government and have been converted for use as the primary long distance transport aircraft as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of Royal Canadian Air Force VIP aircraft.

Design

Lufthansa A310-300 cabin
S7 Airlines A310-200 cockpit

The A310 was a development of the A300; the aircraft was initially designated the A300B10. Essentially a shortened A300, the main differences in the two aircraft are:

Flight deck

The aircraft has a two-crew "glass" cockpit as standard using CRT displays in place of the more traditional instrumentation as well as modern electronic systems. The A310 flight deck was incorporated into the A300-600 enabling a dual type rating to be achieved. The flight deck has provisions for third and fourth crew seats.

Variants

FedEx Express A310-200F
Air Transat A310-300

The A310 is available in two basic versions, the medium range −200 and the longer range −300. The first version of the aircraft to be developed was the −200 but this was later joined by the −300 which then became the standard production version of the aircraft.

A310-200
The first A310, the 162nd Airbus off the production line, made its maiden flight on 3 April 1982 powered by the earlier Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D1 engines. The −200 entered service with Swissair and Lufthansa a year later. Late series −200 also featured wing fences identical to those of the −300. The first three A310s were initially fitted with outboard ailerons; they were later removed once testing showed them to be unnecessary.[13]
A310-200C
A convertible version, the seats can be removed and cargo placed on the main deck.
A310-200F / -300F
The freight version available as a new build or as a conversion of the existing wide-bodied aircraft. The A310-200F freighter can carry 39t of freight for 5,950 km.[14] No production freighters of the A310 were produced. Operators such as FedEx Express acquired modified ex-passenger A310s, usually starting with the −300 version.
A310-300
First flown on 8 July 1985, the −300 is dimensionally identical to the −200, although it provides an increased Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) and an increase in range, provided by additional centre and horizontal stabilizer (trim-tank) fuel tanks. This model also introduced wingtip fences to improve aerodynamic efficiency, a feature that has since been retrofitted to some −200s. The aircraft entered service in 1986 with Swissair. The A310-300 incorporates a computerised fuel distribution system which allows it to be trimmed in flight, optimising the centre of gravity by shuttling up to 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) of fuel in and out of the horizontal stabilizer tank, controlled by a Center of Gravity Control Computer.
A310-300C
A convertible passenger/cargo version, the seats can be removed and cargo placed on the main deck.
A310 MRT/MRTT
The A310 has been operated by many of the world's air forces as a pure transport (A310-300 MRT), however several have now been converted to the "Multi Role Tanker Transport" configuration by EADS, providing an aerial refueling capability. At least six have been ordered; four by the German Air Force and two by the Canadian Forces. Deliveries began in 2004. Three were converted at EADS EFW in Dresden, Germany; the other three at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany.

Operators

Military operators

Former German Air Force A310-300

The A310 has been used by the armed forces of the following countries:

 Belgium
 Canada
 Egypt
 France
 Germany
 Jordan
 Mongolia
 Pakistan
 Spain
 Thailand

Deliveries

By the end of production a total of 255 A310s had been ordered and delivered.[2]

Total1998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983
Deliveries 255122222224191823282119262917

Accidents and incidents

As of September 2015 there have been 12 hull-loss accidents involving A310s with a total of 825 fatalities; and 9 hijackings with a total of five fatalities.[15]

Preserved aircraft

Specifications

An A310-200F cargo aircraft of FedEx Express landing at Dubai International Airport
Hapagfly A310-304 landing at Stuttgart Airport, note deployed thrust reversers on the engines
A310 Airplane Characteristics[22]
Model A310-200 A310-300
Crew Two
Length 46.66 metres (153 ft 1 in)
Height 15.8 metres (51 ft 10 in)
Wingspan 43.9 metres (144 ft)
Wing area 219 m2 (2,360 sq ft)[23]
Wing sweep 28 °[24]
Cross section 5.64 metres (18 ft 6 in)
2-class 220 passengers (20F + 200Y)[25]
1-class 237Y 8-abreast 243Y 8-abreast / 265Y 9-abreast
Maximum Payload 32,834 kg (72,386 lb) 37,293 kg (82,216 lb)
Exit limit 275 passengers[26]
Lower deck cargo 14 LD3 containers
MTOW 144,000 kg (317,465 lb) 164,000 kg (361 557 lb)
MLW 122,000 kg (268,963 lb) 124,000 kg (273,372 lb)
MZFW 112,000 kg (246,917 lb) 116,500 kg (256,838 lb)
OEW CF6—80: 79,207 kg (174,619 lb), JT9D: 77,397 kg (170,631 lb), PW4000: 79,166 kg (174,528 lb)
Max fuel 61,070 L 16,132 US gal
Cruise speed (M) Mach 0.8 (459 kn)[23]
MMO Mach 0.84 (482 kn)[26]
Ceiling 41 100 ft. (12 530 m)[26]
Thrust (×2) 20,380–25,740 decanewtons (45,800–57,900 lbf)[26]
Engines JT9D-7R4 / GE CF6-80 JT9D-7R4E1 / PW4000 / CF6-80C2
Range 3,500 nmi (6,500 km) [lower-alpha 1] 5,150 nmi (9,540 km) [lower-alpha 2]

Aircraft model designations

Type Certificate Data Sheet[26]
Model Certification Date Engines
A310-203 11 March 1983 General Electric CF6-80A3
A310-203C 27 November 1984 General Electric CF6-80A3
A310-204 23 April 1986 General Electric CF6-80C2A2
A310-221 11 March 1983 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D1
A310-222 22 September 1983 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4E1
A310-304 11 March 1986 General Electric CF6-80C2A2
A310-308 5 June 1991 General Electric CF6-80C2A8 or CF6-80C2A2
A310-322 5 December 1985 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4E1
A310-324 27 May 1987 Pratt & Whitney PW4152
A310-325 6 March 1992 Pratt & Whitney PW4156A

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Citations

  1. Final assembly in France
  2. 1 2 3 "Airbus - Historical Orders and Deliveries." Airbus S.A.S., January 2007. Retrieved: 10 December 2012,
  3. Gunston 2009, p. 85.
  4. Gunston 2009, p. 86.
  5. Gunston 2009, p. 87.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Gunston 2009, p. 89.
  7. 1 2 3 Flight International 27 Oct 1979 edition
  8. 1 2 Airclaims Jet Programs 1995
  9. Gunston 2009, p. 91.
  10. "Airbus aims to fill freighter void with A330 derivative." Flight International, 14 March 2006.
  11. "World Airliner Census" (PDF). Flight International. July 2016. p. 5.
  12. "A310 Europe builds on Airbus success." Flight International, 27 February 1982.
  13. Learmount, David (1982-07-03). "A310 keeps beating its targets". Flight International: 34. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  14. "A310-200F Freight version." Aerospace Technology. Retrieved: 6 November 2011.
  15. "Airbus A310." Aviation Safety Net. Retrieved: 30 September 2015.
  16. "Russian plane's 'brakes failed'." BBC News, 9 July 2006. Retrieved: 10 April 2007.
  17. "Russian plane lost control upon landing." The New York Times, 10 July 2006. Retrieved: 11 April 2007.
  18. "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A.310–325 S2-ADE Dubai Airport (DXB)." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 6 November 2011.
  19. "30 people killed in Sudan Airways crash – statement." Sudan Tribune, 11 June 2008. Retrieved: 12 November 2010.
  20. "Yemenia Airbus black box found." stuff.co. Retrieved: 15 April 2015.
  21. Amir, Ahmed, Andrew Cawthorne and Jon Hemming. "Yemeni plane crashes in Comoros, 150 on board." Reuters, 29 June 2009. Retrieved: 30 June 2009.
  22. "A310 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning" (PDF). Airbus. 2002.
  23. 1 2 "A310". Aircraft Technical Data & Specifications. Airliners.net.
  24. "Airbus Aircraft Data File". Civil Jet Aircraft Design. Elsevier. July 1999.
  25. "Out-of-production / A310". Airbus.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Type Certificate Data Sheet" (PDF). EASA. 30 April 2014.

Bibliography

  • Gunston, Bill. Airbus: The Complete Story. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset, UK,: Haynes Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-1-84425-585-6. 
  • Norris, Guy and Mark Wagner. Airbus. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-7603-0677-X. 
  • "World Airliner Census". Flight International, Volume 184, Number 5403, 13–19 August 2013, pp. 40–58.

Notes

  1. ISA, LRC, JT9D, 237 passengers
  2. ISA, LRC, 240 passengers

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