First Foundation Pile for New A380 Assembly Hall
Toulouse, 06 December 2001
Airbus has begun construction of the first major component assembly hall for the new A380. Today, the first foundation pile for the A380 hall on the Mühlenberger Loch site in Hamburg was put into place. Over the coming weeks more than 2,100 foundation piles will be driven into the ground to support the new building.
"We are pressing on with preparations to build the A380, which is a long-term strategic investment in the future of aviation,” said Noel Forgeard, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are fully committed to this programme which will bring the market the right product, with the right economics, at the right time." To date, Airbus has obtained 97 firm orders and commitments from nine customers for this all-new 21st century jetliner which will enter service in 2006.
The major component assembly hall will be roughly 230 m long, 120 m wide and 26 m high. The laying of the foundation stone for this new A380 hall is scheduled for March 2002 and the hall will be completed by early 2003. The forward and aft fuselage sections of the new A380 superjumbo will be built (structural assembly) and the aircraft will be equipped with all its flight-essential systems (equipment assembly) in this new hall. Major component assembly (MCA) for the first A380 aircraft will therefore begin on schedule at the Hamburg site in early 2003. Cabin equipment halls, paintshops, workshops, ground running test facilities and a delivery centre will also be built.
With the world's most modern and comprehensive airliner family on offer, Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer serving some 200 customers and operators around the globe. Based in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a joint EADS company with BAE SYSTEMS.
