A380 passes evacuation test

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Airbus will be able to crowd up to 853 people onto its A380, now that regulators have approved the results from this weekend’s evacuation test. The BBC reports http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4858484.stm that the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation and Safety Agency both have approved the maximum passenger level even though the test did not go without incident.

Key Quote: “During the A380’s evacuation test in Germany, one man broke his leg and another 32 people had minor injuries.”

The International Herald Tribune, quoting wire services, said http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/29/business/airbus.php that Airbus got everyone out in 80 seconds — giving it 10 seconds to spare.

Key Quote: “Volunteers in the drill at the weekend were paid €60, or $72, and given a free meal each. They were chosen from among Airbus staff in Germany as well as recruits from sports clubs and dancing clubs in the Hamburg area, because Airbus wanted to get physically fit people.”