Airbus A340

For the road, see A340 road

The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engined widebody commercial passenger airplane manufactured by Airbus. It is similar in design to the two-engined A330. The airplane was initially designed as a smaller replacement for early generation Boeing 747s, but the latest variants now compete with Boeing's 777 series of aircraft on long-haul and ultra long-haul routes.

History

Airbus' new aircraft was launched in 1988 as a long-range complement to the short-range A320 and the medium-range A300. At the time, the newest long-range widebody (the twinjet Boeing 767) was at a disadvantage against aircraft such as the 747 because of the ETOPS problem: two-engined aircraft have to stay within close range of emergency airfields in case one of their engines malfunctions. The four-engined A340 design was an attempt to make a new-generation competitor for ETOPS-immune aircraft like the Boeing 747. During the late 1990s, Airbus believed that 4 engines were always better than two engines since they created a bigger margin of safety over the twin engine Boeing 777 should an engine fail in flight. Because of its ETOPS-immunity, Virgin Atlantic Airlines uses the motto "4 Engines 4 Long Haul," on its A340 fleet. When fuel costs rose, airlines began looking more at the 777 as an alternative to the A340. As the years went by, orders for the 777 rose, while orders for the A340 began diminishing. In the 2005 sales year, Airbus had only 15 orders for the A340.

Airbus' engineers designed the A340 in parallel with the twin-engined A330: both aircraft share the same wing and similar fuselage structure, and borrow heavily from the advanced avionics developed for the A320.

The original intention was to use the new superfan engines of IAE (International Aero Engines) in the A340 but IAE decided to stop their development and the CFMI CFM56-5C4 was used instead. When the A340 first flew in 1991 engineers noticed a potentially major design flaw in the first model: the wings were not strong enough to carry the outboard engines at cruising speed without warping and fluttering. To alleviate this, an underwing bulge called the plastron, named after the undershell of a tortoise, was developed to correct airflow problems around the engine pylons. The modified A340 began commercial service in 1993 with Lufthansa and Air France.

As of October 2005 a total of 385 A340 had been ordered and 310 delivered.

In January 2006, Airbus announced plans to develop an enhanced version of the A340, dubbed the A340E; where E stands for enhanced, because of disappointing sales in the wake of newer longer range Boeing 777s in 2005, and the rise in fuel costs that have justified twin-engine planes as being cheaper and more economical to operate than four engine planes. In 2005, Boeing had 154 orders for its Boeing 777s, while Airbus had only 15 orders for its A340s. Airbus claims that the enhanced A340 will be more fuel efficient than earlier A340s and will allow the model to compete more effectively with the Boeing 777.

Technology

The A340 incorporates high-technology features such as

Fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system
Sidestick controller instead of normal control columns
Common pilot rating with the two-engined A330
CRT-based glass cockpit displays ; LCD-based on -500 & -600
Some composite primary structures

Variants

Initially Airbus offered two models of A340, the A340-200 and A340-300. The 200 was shorter than the 300 and had a smaller capacity, but could fly farther. In 1997, Airbus launched two stretched variants of the A340 with a new and larger wing, the ultra-long-range -500 and high-capacity -600 series. Both of these models entered airline service in 2002.

A340-200 series

The A340-200, with 261 passengers in a three-class cabin layout has a range of 7,450 nautical miles (13,000 km) and, in a 239 seats configuration, has a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km). A shortened version of the A340-300, it is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C engines. The A340-200 was launched in 1987 and first flew April 1, 1992.

This variant sold in small numbers and is no longer offered to customers.

A340-8000

This is an A340-200 based variant with additional fuel capacity giving MTOW of 275 tonnes. Its range with 232 three-class passengers is 8,100 nautical miles (15,000 km). It is powered by the 34,000 lb_f (151 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4s similar to the -300E. One example was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei and built but not delivered.

Other A340-200s were later given performance improvement packages (PIPs) which helped them achieve similar gains in capability. Those aircraft are labeled A340-213X.

A340-300 series

The A340-300 flies 295 passengers in a typical three-class cabin layout over 6,700 nautical miles (12,400 km). This is the initial version, having flown on October 25 1991 and entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in March, 1993. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C engines, similar to the -200. There are unconfirmed rumors that this particular model has a very poor climb rate compared to other A340s and to its Boeing equivalent.

The direct Boeing equivalent is the 777-200ER.

A340-313X, -313E

The A340-313X is a heavyweight version of the A340, and was first delivered to Singapore Airlines in April, 1996; though Singapore Airlines no longer operates this model. The A340-313E was first delivered to Swiss International in 2003. They have a MTOW between 271 and 275 tonnes with typical range with 295 passengers of between 7,100 and 7,300 nautical miles (13,100 km and 13,500 km). It is powered by the more powerful 34,000 lb_f (151 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4s.

A340-500 series

The A340-500 was the world's longest-range commercial airliner (the KC-10 Extender is the longest-ranged production aircraft), until the introduction of the Boeing 777-200LR "Worldliner" in early 2006. It can fly 313 passengers in a three-class cabin layout over 8,650 nautical miles (16,000 km). Singapore Airlines, for example, currently uses this model for its Newark, New Jersey-Singapore nonstop route, an 18-hour journey that is the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world [1]; the airline is able to do this with a reduced cargo and passenger load, and the installation of additional fuel tanks. It is said that the A340-500 can go from London to Perth, Australia.[2] It made its first flight on February 11 2002, and was certified on December 3 2002 with early deliveries to Emirates.

Compared with the A340-300, the -500 features a 3.3-m fuselage stretch, an enlarged wing area, massive increase in fuel capacity (around 50% over -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger horizontal stabilizer and smaller vertical tailplane. Like the 777-300, the -500/-600 has taxi cameras to help the pilots during ground maneuvers. The A340-500 is powered by four 53,000 lb_f (236 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans.

The A340-500HGW (High Gross Weight) version with a range of 9,000nm (16,700km) and an MTOW of 380t is being offered which would use the strengthened structure and enlarged fuel capacity of the A340-600HGW.

The direct Boeing equivalent is the 777-200LR, which entered service in February 2006.

A340-600 series

Designed as an early-generation Boeing 747 replacement, the A340-600 flies 380 passengers in a three-class cabin layout (419 in 2 class) over 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km). It provides similar passenger capacity to a 747 but with twice the cargo volume, and at lower trip and seat costs. First flight of the A340-600 was made on April 23 2001. Virgin Atlantic began commercial services in August 2002. Cathay Pacific uses the plane on its nonstop service between Hong Kong and New York City (JFK); however, from 2007 onward, Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will replace the leased A340-600s .

The A340-600 is more than 10 m longer than a basic -300, making it the longest airliner in the world, more than four meters longer than a Boeing 747-400 (but the longest airliner record will be surpassed by the newer 747-8 [freighter version]). It is powered by four 56,000 lb_f (249 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans. It also has an additional four-wheel undercarriage on the fuselage center-line to cope with the increase of MTOW.

The initial seven A340-600 aircraft were delivered with overweight wings. After the A340-600 launch customer (Virgin Atlantic) elected to receive replacement aircraft, these airframes were delivered at a reduced price to Iberia Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Airbus is introducing a "High Gross Weight" version of the A340-600 (dubbed A340-600HGW). It will have an MTOW of 380t and a range of up to 14,600km (7,900nm), made possible by strengthened structure, increased fuel and new manufacturing techniques like laser beam welding. Emirates became the launch customer when it ordered 18 at the 2003 Paris Air Show [3]; but postponed their order indefinitely in order to wait for Airbus' future plans for the A340 range to be made clear. After Emirates postponed their orders, rival Qatar Airways will take the first delivery in mid-2006. The first flight of this model was on 18 November 2005. [4]

The direct Boeing equivalent is the 777-300ER.

Accident summary

As at December 11, 2005:

Hull loss accidents

The A340 has not had a fatal incident to date, but it has suffered two hull-loss accidents:

Air France A340-211 (F-GNIA): On January 20 1994, an Air France A340-211 (F-GNIA) was lost to fire during servicing at CDG.
Air France Flight 358: On August 2 2005, all 297 passengers and 12 crew survived a crash and fire after their A340-300 (F-GLZQ) overshot runway 24L at Toronto Pearson International Airport in a thunderstorm. The aircraft slid into Etobicoke Creek and broke up. Forty three were injured, some seriously because some of the emergency slides did not operate properly. This forced some passengers to jump nearly 20 feet/6 meters to the ground.

Other incidents

An A340-311 of Virgin Atlantic Airways was forced to land with the right main gear retracted on November 5 1997 at London Heathrow Airport. When landing, the left main gear collapsed. All 100 passengers were unharmed and the aircraft was repaired in 28 days.
The landing gear of an A340-211 of Sabena collapsed during landing at Brussels Airport on August 29 1998. The right horizontal stabilizer was destroyed.
An A340-312 of Sri Lankan Airlines was destroyed on the ground by Tamil Tiger guerrillas on July 24 2001 at Colombo-Bandaranayake IAP, Sri Lanka, along with 2 A330s and a squadron of military aircraft.
An A340-313X of Emirates ran off the runway when taking off from Johannesburg International Airport on April 9 2004. Both pilots were unfamiliar with this lighter variant of the Airbus. At the call to rotate, the pilot flying pulled back on the stick. However, according to a report by the airline, "for approximately six or seven seconds the aircraft nose did not move upward" [5]. The nose finally came up, but the aircraft still did not become airborne. The crew felt a rumbling, selected full power, and about two seconds later the aircraft lifted off the ground [6]. The airport says 25 runway threshold and approach lights, and part of the runway surface, were damaged as the aircraft went over the end of 21R. Apparently the calculated rotation speed (Vr) was too low, so the Airbus fly-by-wire system kept it on the ground, rather than risking an overrotation. The pilot had received incorrect rotation instructions during a simulator session. Emirates Training establishment was censured by Airbus after an investigation.

Specifications

	A340-200	A340-300	A340-500	A340-600
Wingspan	60.30 m 197 ft. 1 in.	60.31 m 197 ft. 10 in.	63.45 m 208 ft. 2 in.	63.45 m 208 ft. 2 in.
Wing sweep	30°	30°	31.1°	31.1°
Length	59.39 m 194 ft. 10 in.	63.60 m 208 ft. 10 in.	67.90 m 222 ft. 8 in.	75.30 m 246 ft. 11 in.
Height	16.70 m 54 ft. 9 in.	16.85 m 55 ft. 3 in.	17.10 m 56 ft. 1 in.	17.30 m 56 ft. 9 in.
Wheelbase	23.24 m 76 ft. 3 in.	25.60 m 84 ft. 0 in.	27.59 m 90 ft. 6 in.	32.89 m 107 ft. 11 in.
Typical cruise speed	Mach 0.82 (875 km/h, 544 mph)		Mach 0.83 (885 km/h, 550 mph)
Maximum cruise speed	Mach 0.86 (917 km/h, 570 mph)		Mach 0.86 (917 km/h, 570 mph)
Operating range	14,800 km 9,196 mi	13,700 km 8,513 mi	16,700 km 10,377 mi	14,600 km 9,072 mi
Passengers (3 classes)	239	295	313	380
Source	[7]	[8]	[9]	[10]

Note: Cruise speeds in km/h and mph are calculated based on a cruising altitude of 10,668 m (35,000 ft).