Large Aircraft

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The A-380 is becoming more popular as airlines look for ways to move the maximum amount of passengers for the least money (Stafford, 2006). The A380 is made in passenger or freight versions. The A380-800 is the largest passenger plane in the world. When passenger areas are divided into three classes, the A380 can seat 550 passengers. When the entire plane is designated economy class, it can seat 853 people. There is 50% more cabin floor space than the Boeing 747 because the A380s upper deck goes the entire length of the fuselage (“Airbus a380 airfield,”2011). In 2010 there were already over 30 in use and more are expected in the near future (Young & Wells, 2011, p. 473). Due to the size and weight of the aircraft, airports will have to make some major renovations, improvements and expansions to accommodate them.

Airport Design

Most airports were not designed to accommodate aircraft this large. The A380 requires more space, both horizontal and vertical, when taxiing, waiting and flying. Many airports are already cramped for take-off and landing slots. The suggested in-flight separation times for an A380 would be 10-30% more than that of a Boeing 747. Instead of assisting with congestion problems, the A380 could actually slow things down (Stafford, 2006).

Linear airport designs would be much more practical for the A380. They allow more flexibility in gate assignments and provide the room needed for the large aircraft. The linear design is also more efficient because it reduces taxi time and the number of turn a plane must make to get to the gate. Large aircraft cannot get to the center gates in the cross-shaped concourses. It is also much easier to expand a linear concourse than a cross shaped concourse (DeNeufvi...

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Hughes, J. (2007, April 27). Airbus a380 might limit airport capacity. Seattle PI. Retrieved from

http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Airbus-A380-might-limit-airport-capacity-1235708.php

Ruehle, J, Goetsch, B & Koch, B. (2006). Consequences of feeder delays for the success of a380

operations. Journal of Air Transportation, 11(2), 43-63. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=90c929b6-7a2d-4379-ba8b-2f7834967fb9%40sessionmgr114&vid=8&hid=14

Stafford, N. (2006, September 28). Turbulent times. Nature, 443(7110), 385. Retrieved

from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=93690497-d30f-4f52-8418-14820520ff78%40sessionmgr113&vid=11&hid=113

Young S. & Wells, A. (2011). Airport Planning and Management (6th ed.). New York, New

York: McGraw Hill

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