FAA Certifies Airbus A380
December 29, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Type Certificate to Airbus for its Airbus A380, clearing the double-decker jet to fly passengers and cargo.
It is FAA policy to issue a Type Certificate when it determines that an aircraft type complies with all applicable U.S. safety regulations.
In the case of the A380, the certification period lasted longer than the standard five years, because of the size and complexity of the jet, FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey said.
Airbus first applied for FAA certification on Aug. 12, 1998.
The FAA worked with the European Aviation Safety Agency and Airbus during the certification process and will continue to work with the European agency in areas where the A380's size poses challenges - flight tests needed for FAA approval of A380 operations on 150-foot-wide runways are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2007, for example.
According to Blakey, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is considering the minimum separation criteria for aircraft operating behind an A380 in all phases of flight to minimize wake vortex effects.
Source: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).