The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) gave a permit for Boeing to conduct a test flight for the 747-8 aircraft at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Director General of the ECAA, Col. Wossenyeleh Hunegnaw, told Aviation News Online that the authority has given a permission to Boeing to conduct the test flights.
Last July executives of Boeing informed the authority that they wanted to conduct a high altitude test flights at the Addis Ababa airport with the new jetliner and requested permission. However, the authority did not accept the request at that time on the ground that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise was undertaking a massive airport expansion project at the Bole International Airport. Officials of the CAA had told executives of Boeing that there was congestion due to the ongoing construction work. The Ethiopian Airport Enterprise last year launched the Addis Ababa airport expansion program. A Chinese construction firm is constructing the ramps at a cost of two billion birr. According to the enterprise, the expansion project would be finalised end of this month.
Col. Wossenyeleh said Boeing could now conduct the test flight as the enterprise is being finalising. “We have already given them the green light,” he told Aviation News Online.
Aircraft manufacturers prefer Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for its high altitude. Engine performance is usually tested at high altitude. In October 2006 Airbus conducted flight test for its A380 Super Jumbo aircraft in Addis Ababa. The biggest commercial aircraft, A380, was in Addis Ababa in 2009 upon its return from the Dubai Airshow.
Boeing’s latest airliner to fly, the 747-8 Intercontinental, mid this year began its flight test programme with take off on its maiden flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington State. The new 747-8 Intercontinental, painted in a vivid orange-and-white livery with grey and gold striping, made its debut at the Paris Airshow held in Le Bourget last June.
With planned 380 seats, the 747-8 has a list price of $317 million. Lufthansa is the launch customer of the new jetliner with 20 firm orders. Arik Air of Nigeria recently placed four firm orders for this particular type.