The Airbus A330-900 MSN1795, registration F-WTTN, which the company uses for testing the A330neo platform, had recently flown to Toluca, Mexico, and then to La Paz, Bolivia. There, it has conducted a two-week «hot & high» test campaign, demonstrating its performance in high-altitude and high-temperature airport environments.
«Hot & high» tests are conducted due to the impact these variables have on aircraft performance: warm air is less dense, reducing the lift generated by the wings and the thrust produced by the engines (both because they move less mass of air per second and due to the inability to burn more fuel per second).
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This campaign marks the first time the A330-900 has operated from such high-altitude airports. The objective is to benefit airline customers whose networks require such operations, expanding the range of airports from which the A330neo can operate.
Until now, the A330neo has been certified to operate in airports up to 8,000 feet.
After approval – potentially by the first quarter of 2025 – the aircraft will be able to operate in airports up to 12,500 feet in elevation. This will enable operations in China, Tibet (e.g., Lhasa), Central and South America (e.g., Bogotá, Toluca, Quito, and Mexico), and Africa (e.g., Addis Ababa).
The tests have primarily focused on evaluating takeoff and landing performance. The aircraft has also conducted local flights to assess climb and approach performance. Other tests have included multiple engine starts, low-speed taxiing, and aborted takeoffs.
A team of around 40 Airbus experts has participated in the campaign. According to the manufacturer, initial results indicate good performance and behavior of both the aircraft and its Trent 7000 engines.
