Following the first flights of the first A330neo test aircraft (MSN1795) on 19th October 2017 and the second (MSN1813) on the 4th of December, both are fully operational and are now flying on a daily basis, says Airbus. They have already accumulated more than 290 flight hours and over 80 flights (as of 24th January). This represents a very strong start to the campaign and confirms that the aircraft behaviour is in line with predictions.
Much has been achieved, says Airbus: The aircraft flight envelope has been fully opened (normal and direct laws); Anemometry has been calibrated; Engine calibration points have been completed in high and low speed; Flutter tests and loads calibration have been performed; Stall tests have been performed and strake configuration has been frozen; Autopilot tests have started (including automatic landing) and climb and high speed performance tests are fully underway.
Over the next three months, both aircraft will focus on the external campaigns: MSN1795 will perform the cold weather campaign and the external noise tests and MSN1813 will undertake the natural icing tests and the first part of the warm and hot weather campaigns. In parallel, handling qualities and identification flights will continue on both aircraft while maturing overall aircraft components and systems.
In the meantime, Airbus is progressing on readying the next A330neo aircraft to fly -- the third flight test-aircraft and the first A330-800, MSN1888. This aircraft has now completed its structural assembly and flight-test instrumentation installation is on-going. Very soon the aircraft enter the painting hangar to receive its external livery. Moreover, production aircraft are progressing according to plan in the Final Assembly Line and Airbus has completed the installation of the first brand new Airspace cabin.