Two Lankans pilot Emirates’ new Airbus A380
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Suren Ratwatte and Suhail Hashim among the first of the
airline’s pilots to fly the brand new aircraft.
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The addition of the iconic new Airbus A380 Super Jumbo aircraft to
the Emirates fleet has provided two Sri Lankans with a unique
opportunity to become part of this milestone in the history of the
Dubai-based international airline.
Captains Suren Ratwatte and Suhail Hashim, who joined Emirates in
1989, are among the first of the airline’s pilots to fly the brand-new
aircraft.
Captain Suren Ratwatte flew the prototype aircraft registered as F-WWDD
out of Airbus Industrie’s home airfield in Toulouse France on June 18,
while his close friend Captain Suhail Hashim flew the same aircraft the
following day.
The two pilots were part of the first batch of Emirates crew to
qualify to fly the huge aircraft, now being operated by Emirates between
Dubai and New York.
“This is something that all Sri Lankans can be proud of,” said
Chandana de Silva, Emirates’ Area Manager for Sri Lanka and the
Maldives. “The A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft, and
Suren’s and Suhail’s achievement is a tribute to the abilities of our
pilots and the prominent role they can play in global aviation.”
The A380 is the world’s only twin-deck, two-aisle airliner, offering
the widest cabin of any aircraft. The aircraft’s floor area is 49 per
cent bigger and has 35 per cent more seats than its closest rival. It
towers at 79 feet, 7 inches high with a wing span of 261 feet, 8 inches.
Powered by American aircraft engine maker Engine Alliance’s GP7200
engines, Emirates’ A380s have a range of up to 9,320 miles and offer
better fuel economy per passenger mile than most hybrid passenger cars.
The A380 is also quieter - both inside and outside of the cabin -
generating less than half the noise of other aircraft on take off.
The Emirates A380 has 489 seats in a three-class configuration (14
first class seats, 76 business class seats and 399 economy class seats).
Unique to the Emirates aircraft are its Shower Spas, two fully-equipped
bathrooms in the First Class cabins with shower facilities. In addition
to increasing cabin crew for its A380, Emirates has brought in Cabin
Service Assistants tasked with keeping the Shower Spas clean for the
exclusive use of First Class passengers.
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