When faced with questions surrounding the need for a megasized airliner like its upcoming A380, Airbus's answer has essentially boiled down to that classic line from "Field of Dreams": If you build it, they will come.
But will they be able to leave? Especially when it matters most?
That's a question that has loomed over the A380 since its inception... and it's about to be put to the test. Using 853 handpicked volunteer "passengers" from among Airbus staff -- as well as members of a local gym -- Airbus will conduct its first full-scale emergency evacuation test of the double-decker superjumbo on March 26.
The goal of the test is to show that those passengers -- as well as 18 cabin crew attendants and two pilots -- will be able to safely flee the A380 during a simulated emergency. To pass the test, at least 750 occupants have to be evacuated in 90 seconds.
What's more, they'll need to do it with only half of the A380's exits functioning per level (Airbus won't determine which doors will be inoperable until 48 hours prior to the test -- and even then, those onboard won't know beforehand). Also, everyone onboard will be in the dark -- with only a bare minimum of safety lighting available.
The passenger load will also represent a cross-section of the typical passenger demographic: 35 percent of the volunteers are over the age of 50, at least 40 percent are female and 15 percent of those women must be over 50, as well.
Aero-News Network
But will they be able to leave? Especially when it matters most?
That's a question that has loomed over the A380 since its inception... and it's about to be put to the test. Using 853 handpicked volunteer "passengers" from among Airbus staff -- as well as members of a local gym -- Airbus will conduct its first full-scale emergency evacuation test of the double-decker superjumbo on March 26.
The goal of the test is to show that those passengers -- as well as 18 cabin crew attendants and two pilots -- will be able to safely flee the A380 during a simulated emergency. To pass the test, at least 750 occupants have to be evacuated in 90 seconds.
What's more, they'll need to do it with only half of the A380's exits functioning per level (Airbus won't determine which doors will be inoperable until 48 hours prior to the test -- and even then, those onboard won't know beforehand). Also, everyone onboard will be in the dark -- with only a bare minimum of safety lighting available.
The passenger load will also represent a cross-section of the typical passenger demographic: 35 percent of the volunteers are over the age of 50, at least 40 percent are female and 15 percent of those women must be over 50, as well.
Aero-News Network
