INTRODUCTION

This chapter looks at some of the commercial requirements and background to the proposals to build a new civil airliner capable of carrying about 600 people. The costs and risks of such a project are huge, but the profits might be large too. In explaining the requirements some of the units of measurement used are discussed. Design calculations in a company are likely to assume that the aircraft flies in the International Standard Atmosphere (or something very similar) and this assumption will be adopted throughout this book. The standard atmosphere is introduced and discussed towards the end of the chapter. The chapter ends with brief reference to recent concerns about environmental issues.

SOME COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND

In December 2000 Airbus formally announced the plans to go ahead with a new large aircraft, dubbed the A380, intended in its initial version to carry a full payload (with 555 passengers) for a range of up to 8150 nautical miles. First flight is intended to be in 2004 and entry into service in 2006. There are already plans afoot for heavier versions, carrying more that 555 passengers and for all-freight versions with a larger payload. In December 2000 Airbus Industrie had received enough orders to justify the expected cost of over $10 billion, with an expected breakeven point with a sale of 250 aircraft. They forecast delivery of the 250th aircraft in 2011.