Airbus A330-200 General |
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| US$ 139.6 - 145.5 million |
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Northwest Airlines |
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Airbus A330-200 Program Milestones |
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Airbus A330-200 Aircraft Dimensions |
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| 197 feet 10 inch (60,30 m) |
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Airbus A330-200 Powerplants |
Example of the CF6-80E1
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Range |
| 6.750 nautical miles (12.500 km) |
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Airbus A330-200 Orders & Deliveries |
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| Airbus A330-200 |
Along with the development of the Airbus A340, the twin engined A330 was under construction as well. The A330 is a long-range twin aisle twin which was originally designed to compete with the Boeing 767 in the ETOPS (Extended Twin Engine Operations) market. Fuselage and wings are basically identical to the Airbus A340 while its powerplants are different and more powerful (compared to A340-200 and -300 versions). In fact the Airbus A330-200 is identical to the A340-200 with only 2 engines installed and improved efficiency.
The A330-200 is capable of carrying up to 293 passengers in a typical 2 class configuration over a distance of 6.750 nautical miles. Ever since the aircraft was launched, the aircraft entered service with many large airlines like KLM, Northwest Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Its succes can be attributed to high efficiency and low operating costs. Besides this, cockpit commonality between the A320 and A340 family creates a huge advantage for airlines that are enabled to use their crews on multiple aircraft types. The fly-by-wire technology thereby reduces pilot workload and enhances flight safety.
Although the aircraft already has been a great succes and will be in the future with the A330-200F coming up, the main reason for building this aircraft were disappointing sales of the A340-200. The original A340-200 was then revamped into the A330-200 and immediately made it more popular than the four-engined variant. Total development costs for the type are estimated around US$ 135.3 million.
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| Airbus A330-200 Design |
The design characteristics of the Airbus A330 family (comprising of the Airbus A330-200 and -300) are similar to the Airbus A340 family. Apart from two additional engines on the A340, the systems and avionics are pretty much the same.
Flight Controls
The Airbus A330 is equipped with an electronic flight control system (EFCS). Roll control is accomplished by two individual outboard ailerons and five outboard spoiler panels on each wing. Pitch axis control is accomplished by a trimmable tailplane and seperate left and right elevators. The tailplane can also be mechanically controlled from the flight deck although fly-by-wire computer inputs are superimposed. The rudder is controlled by dual rudder pedals, with dual yaw damping inputs superimposed. High lift devices consist of full-span slats, flaps and aileron droop; speed braking and lift dumping is achieved by raising all six spoilers on each wing and together with all ailerons.
In case you are interested in the operation of this system please visit the following articles.
Structure
Wings on both the A330 and A340 are almost identical except for those installed on the latter which are strengthened in the area of the outboard engine pylon together with appropriate modification of leading-edge slats 4 and 5. A common fuselage is shared by all initial versions, except in overall length. Construction is generally similar to that of the Airbus A310 and A300-600 except for the centre-section.
Accomodation
The aircraft is flown by a crew of two on the flight deck. Passenger seating is configured typically in a six-abreast in first class, six-abreast in business class and eight-abreast in economy class, all with twin aisles. The Airbus A330 is certified to carry a total 375 passengers in a fuselage configured with three pairs of Type A and one pair of Type 1 emergency exits, or 379 passengers with four pairs of Type A exists.
Systems
Hamilton Sundstrand GTCP 331-350C APU.
Avionics
The avionics suite consists of the Airbus Future Air Navigation System (FANS-A), comprising Smith's Industries digital control and display system linked to the Honeywell Flight Management System (FMS) and can be retrofitted to all A330's and A340's.
Engines
The A330 is powered by two turbonfan engines. There is a variety of engines that can be installed underneath the aircraft. The initial application was the General Electric GE CF6-80E1A2 (64,530 lbf), with the CF6-80E1A4 (64,600 lbf) available on the longer-range version. Alternative engines comprise the GE CF6-80E1A3 (68,530 lbf), the PW4168/A (68,600 lbf), the R-R Trent 772-60/772B-60A (71,100 lbf), the PW4164 (64,500 lbf) and the Trent 768-60 (67,500 lbf). |
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| Airbus A330 Versions |
| Airbus A330-200 |
The Airbus A330-200 is an extended range version of the Airbus A330-300. It was launched on November 24, 1995, and is about 10 frames shorter than its predecessor. It can carry 253 passengers in a typical three class configuration over a distance of about 6,650 nautical miles. The aircraft first flew on August 13, 1997, and was followed by its public debut at the Dubai Air Show in November that same year. First user of the -200 was Canada 3000 who took delivery of its first aircraft on May 29, 1998. |
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| Airbus A330-300 |
The Airbus A330-300 is the baseline version of the A330 family. It can seat up to 295 passengers in a typical three class configuration. Since October 1993 it is offered with a payload increase of 15,432 lb as well as an increased Maximum Take-Off Weight of 478,400 lb available from November 1995. The first A330-300 was delivered on December 30, 1993, and entered commercial service with Air Inter on January 17, 1994. |
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