Editing Airbus A380 (section)

===Integration with infrastructure and regulations===

====Ground operations====
[[File:Qatar Airways Airbus A380-800 at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 before Flying to Doha, 6 Jan 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Aircraft ground handling]] with separate [[jetway]]s for the main and upper decks, and [[ground support equipment]] on a [[Qatar Airways]] A380]]

In the 1990s, aircraft manufacturers were planning to introduce larger planes than the [[Boeing 747]]. In a common effort of the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) with manufacturers, airports and its member agencies, the "80-metre box" was created, the [[Gate (airport)|airport gates]] allowing planes up to {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}} wingspan and length to be accommodated.<ref>{{cite web |last= Milstein |first= Michael |title= Superduperjumbo Double the size of an Airbus A380? No problem, aerodynamicists say. |publisher=Air & Space Magazine |url= http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/Superduperjumbo.html?c=y&page=2 |access-date=25 October 2008}}</ref> Airbus designed the A380 according to these guidelines,<ref name=ACAP>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A380-Dec-2016.pdf |title= A380 aircraft characteristics airport and maintenance planning |date= 1 December 2016 |publisher= Airbus |access-date= 11 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180711235126/https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A380-Dec-2016.pdf |archive-date= 11 July 2018 |url-status=dead |df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= Airbus opens its books for the world's biggest jumbo. But is it a plane too far? |first= Michael |last= Harrison |work=The Independent |location=UK |date= 24 June 2000 |url= http://www.independent.ie/business/airbus-opens-its-books-for-the-worlds-biggest-jumbo-but-is-it-a-plane-too-far-375339.html}}</ref> and to operate safely on Group V runways and taxiways with a {{convert|60|m}} loadbearing width.<ref name="ecac">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20050529102206/http://www.ecac-ceac.org/nla-forum/IMG/pdf/AACG_Common_Agreement_Document_V2.1.pdf Common Agreement Document of the A380 Airport Compatibility Group Version 2.1]" page 8, ''[[European Civil Aviation Conference]]'', December 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2012.</ref> The US FAA initially opposed this,<ref name="faa_eb65">{{cite web |title= Minimum Requirements to Widen Existing 150-Foot Wide Runways for Airbus A380 Operations |publisher=FAA |date= 13 February 2004 |url= http://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/media/EB_65a.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091229081603/http://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/media/EB_65a.pdf |archive-date= 29 December 2009 |access-date=18 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="faa_eb63a">{{cite web |title=Use of non-standard 75-foot-wide straight taxiway sections for Airbus 380 taxiing operations |publisher=FAA |date=April 2006 |url=http://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/media/EB_63a.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5l7zrmByy?url=http://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/media/EB_63a.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2009 |access-date=24 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> then in July 2007, the FAA and EASA agreed to let the A380 operate on {{convert|45|m|abbr=on}} runways without restrictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Operational Evaluation Board Report Airbus A380-800 Report of the FCL/OPS Subgroup Report, Revision 1 18 July 2011 |date=18 July 2011 |url=http://www.easa.europa.eu/certification/flight-standards/doc/oeb-final-report/airbus/Airbus-A380-FCL-OPS-OEB-Report-Rev_1-20110718.pdf |access-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017231207/http://www.easa.europa.eu/certification/flight-standards/doc/oeb-final-report/airbus/Airbus-A380-FCL-OPS-OEB-Report-Rev_1-20110718.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The A380-800 is approximately 30% larger in overall size than the 747-400.<ref name="usdebut">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2003624136_a380debut18.html|title=Airbus set for U.S. debut of world's largest passenger jet|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=21 December 2010|last=Oldham|first=Jennifer|date=18 March 2007}}</ref><ref name="awpilot">{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/pilot-report-flying-airbus-a380|title=Pilot Report: Flying the Airbus A380|access-date=21 December 2010|last=North|first=David|date=2 October 2006|work=Aviation Week}}</ref> Runway lighting and signage may need changes to provide clearance to the wings and avoid blast damage from the engines. Runways, runway shoulders and taxiway shoulders may be required to be stabilised to reduce the likelihood of [[foreign object damage]] caused to (or by) the outboard engines, which are more than {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the centre line of the aircraft,<ref name="ACAP" /><ref name="ecac" /><ref name="Airports Prepare for the A380">{{cite web |last= Arnoult |first= Sandra |title= Airports Prepare for the A380 |publisher=Airport Equipment & Technology |url= https://aviationweek.com/airports-prepare-a380 |access-date=25 October 2008}}</ref> compared to {{convert|21|m|ft|abbr=on}} for the [[Boeing 747-400|747-400]],<ref name="747_airport">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20130124191736/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/acaps/7474sec2.pdf 747-400 Airport Compatibility Report]", section 2.2.1. [[Boeing]], December 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2012.</ref> and [[Boeing 747-8|747-8]].<ref name="747-8_airport">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121014235741/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/acaps/7478sec2.pdf 747-8 Airport Compatibility Report]", section 2.2.1. [[Boeing]], December 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.</ref>

Airbus measured pavement loads using a 540-tonne (595&nbsp;short tons) ballasted test rig, designed to replicate the [[landing gear]] of the A380. The rig was towed over a section of pavement at Airbus's facilities that had been instrumented with embedded load sensors.<ref>{{cite web |last= Dupont |first= Willy-Pierre |title= A380&nbsp;– A solution for airports |publisher=Airbus |url= http://www.content.airbusworld.com/SITES/Customer_services/html/acrobat/fast_33_p7_16solution.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080910193055/http://www.content.airbusworld.com/SITES/Customer_services/html/acrobat/fast_33_p7_16solution.pdf |archive-date= 10 September 2008 |access-date=19 May 2007}}</ref> It was determined that the pavement of most runways will not need to be reinforced despite the higher weight,<ref name="Airports Prepare for the A380" /> as it is distributed on more wheels than in other passenger aircraft with a total of 22 wheels (that is, its [[ground pressure]] is lower).<ref name="test" /> The A380 undercarriage consists of four main landing gear legs and one noseleg (a layout similar to that of the 747), with the two inboard landing gear legs each supporting six wheels.<ref name="test">{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/09/25/209189/flight-test-airbus-a380.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412051939/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/09/25/209189/flight-test-airbus-a380.html|archive-date=12 April 2009|title=FLIGHT TEST: Airbus A380|work=Flight International|access-date=15 December 2010|last=Gerzanics|first=Mike|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/dglr/hh/text_2008_06_05_LandingGear.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326220823/http://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/dglr/hh/text_2008_06_05_LandingGear.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2017|title=A380 Landing Gear and Systems|work=Airbus|access-date=26 March 2017|last= Hebborn|first=Andy |date= June 2008}}</ref>

The A380 requires service vehicles with lifts capable of reaching the upper deck,<ref>{{cite web |title= Catering |publisher=Lufthansa |url= http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/logistik/catering/index.php |access-date=25 October 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080615013420/http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/logistik/catering/index.php |archive-date= 15 June 2008}}</ref> as well as [[pushback (aviation)|tractors]] capable of handling the A380's maximum ramp weight.<ref>{{cite web |title= Aircraft movements |publisher=Lufthansa |url= http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/logistik/pushback/index.php |access-date= 25 October 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080614210748/http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/logistik/pushback/index.php |archive-date= 14 June 2008}}</ref> When using two jetway bridges the boarding time is 45 min, and when using an extra jetway to the upper deck it is reduced to 34 min.<ref>{{cite web|last=Helms |first=Ina |title=Boarding please&nbsp;– aber ein bisschen flott! |publisher=Innovate! |url=http://www.thyssenkrupp.com/documents/Publikationen/Sonderveroeffentl/innovate_02_05_Fluggastbruecke.pdf |access-date=25 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120005027/http://www.thyssenkrupp.com/documents/Publikationen/Sonderveroeffentl/innovate_02_05_Fluggastbruecke.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2008}}</ref> The A380 has an airport turnaround time of 90–110 minutes.<ref name="fgLook">"[http://www.flightglobal.com/page/A380-In-Service-Report/Airbus-A380-In-Service-Report-Looking-forward/ Looking forward] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227031733/http://www.flightglobal.com/page/A380-In-Service-Report/Airbus-A380-In-Service-Report-Looking-forward/ |date=27 December 2014}}" ''[[Flightglobal]]'', undated. Retrieved 20 June 2014.</ref> In 2008, the A380 test aircraft were used to trial the modifications made to several airports to accommodate the type.<ref>{{Cite news |title= A380 first touchdown in the United States as part of commercial Route Proving |publisher=Airbus |date= 12 March 2007 |url= http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_03_12_A380_USA_route_proving.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081216110239/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_03_12_A380_USA_route_proving.html |archive-date= 16 December 2008}}</ref>

====Takeoff and landing separation====
As of 2023, the A380 is the only aircraft in [[wake turbulence category]] Super (J).<ref name="Doc 8643">{{cite web |title=Aircraft Type Designators |url=https://www.icao.int/publications/DOC8643/Pages/Search.aspx |website= icao.int |access-date=10 February 2023}}</ref>

====Maintenance====
As the A380 fleet grows older, [[National Airworthiness Authority|airworthiness authority]] rules require certain scheduled [[Aircraft maintenance|inspections]] from approved [[maintenance, repair, and operations|aircraft tool shops]]. The increasing fleet size (at the time projected to reach 286 aircraft in 2020) cause expected maintenance and modification to cost $6.8&nbsp;billion for 2015–2020, of which $2.1&nbsp;billion are for engines. Emirates performed its first [[3C check|3C-check]]<!--almost a D--> for 55 days in 2014. During lengthy shop stays, some airlines will use the opportunity to install new interiors.<ref name="aw2015-02-02">{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Canaday |url=http://aviationweek.com/mro/major-maintenance-due-airbus-a380s |title=Major Maintenance Due For Airbus A380s |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |date=2 February 2015 |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424212038/http://aviationweek.com/mro/major-maintenance-due-airbus-a380s |archive-date=24 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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