Aboard the A380

Before my first flight on the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, I thought a racing heart might not be a problem.

The A380 was no stranger to me, a journalist who has been reporting on every major development for this giant bird over the past two years. I had visited its manufacturing base and luxurious cabin mock-up center in Toulouse, France and even witnessed how it touched down at the Beijing airport.

But I was wrong.

The quiet was unnerving and my pulse rate rose as the more than 500-ton jetliner climbed powerfully into the sky from Frankfurt International Airport. But I barely felt its enormous thrust as the heavy craft became airborne.

I could hardly feel its weight and size and was surprised how quietly and gracefully the super jumbo moved both on the ground and in the air. Statistics show that the A380 is one-third quieter than today's Boeing B747.

As its powerful jet engines started up, I experienced only a gentle, low murmur. As the giant took off, the growl of its engines became a bit louder, but inside the aircraft, the sense was one of virtual stillness.

Spaciousness and the width of the cabin are distinctive characteristics of the A380.

The A380 is "two aircraft in one": a long-range A340 on the back of a Boeing B747 jumbo jet. The combination means more space throughout the interior on both decks, which are linked by two staircases. The two-story aircraft gives the impression of two totally independent aircraft decks. Passengers board the mega-liner through a three-way entry, one a bridge onto the upper deck and two bridges directly onto the main deck.

Even in the economy class cabin, the aisles are arranged in such a way that passengers can pass when the cabin crew are serving from a trolley.

The windows appear much larger than those in other aircraft. They reinforce the impression of light and openness.

Lufthansa flight attendants, providing services during the test flight, are already looking forward to the pleasant, modern work atmosphere the A380 will offer them in the future.

"Working on the A380 is always an event for me," says stewardess Salome Saremi, who has flown with the A380 on five previous tests.

"A lot of details make our work easier," she says.

For example, lifts are available in the galleys for onboard service. Cabin lights can be dimmed much more finely and in gentle sequences. The temperature and air conditioning can be set more precisely.

"When the passengers feel happier, it is also easier for us (to work)," she adds.

Right at the end of my flight, my pulse rate rose once again. Before I realized it, the wheels touched the ground and the aircraft landed gently at Hong Kong International Airport.

(China Daily 04/16/2007 page6)