On June 26, 2007 an A380 successfully tested out airport facilities at Paris-Vatry for the first time. Airbus Industries subsequently drew up a 3-month scheduled training programme, running until September 25, which designated Paris-Vatry Airport as an official venue for Airbus training sessions but also for airlines which are set to acquire the Super-Jumbo.

Designed to put crews through their paces, the training programme makes provision for 3 different routes into Paris-Vatry airport and which on certain dates can each be operated during the same day. The programme was stepped up further on August 29 when an A380 decked out in Airbus livery carried out training exercises over a two-hour period which included landings in zero visibility using the airport’s ILS CAT.lll system.

Equipped with a runway measuring 3,860 metres long and 60 metres wide, Paris-Vatry Airport ranks among the major European airports already capable of accommodating the A380. Thanks to its remarkable, strategic location, first-class airport infrastructure and know-how in handling training flights, Paris-Vatry Airport is likely to be chosen once again in the near future to host Airbus test flights and also the training exercises of airlines who will soon be acquiring the aircraft. In the longer term, the cargo version of the A380 may well be seen on the runway at Paris-Vatry Airport too.