Another milestone was reached today for the Airbus A330neo aircraft, with the completion of its first flight.
The prototype A330-800neo, F-WTTN, departed Toulouse at 09:57 local time for a flight over south-western France.
The A330neo’s certification development programme itself will last around 1,400 flight-test hours. This will comprise 1,100 flight hours for the A330-900 campaign – to achieve its respective EASA and FAA Type Certification around the middle of 2018; plus 300 flight hours for A330-800 version – which will be certified in 2019. Overall, the full A330neo Family flight-test campaign will be performed by three certification flight-test aircraft, plus the first production aircraft (the latter to validate the Airspace cabin prior to EIS).
The first aircraft will be delivered to TAP Portugal, with other commitments from Delta Airlines, AirAsia X, Hawaiian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Arkia Israel, Iran Air, Aircalin and various aircraft lessors.
Here are some pictures of the A330neo first flight.
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