As the cornerstones of Airbus' modern aircraft product line, the A300 and A310 incorporate the innovation and technological advances that have made Airbus a world-leading jetliner producer.

Airbus pioneered the use of advanced composite materials on the A300B in 1972, incorporating them in secondary structures such as tailfin leading edges. Composites subsequently were applied to primary structures, with an entirely composite vertical tail plane introduced on the A310-300.

In cockpit technology, Airbus also has become a leader as the result of innovations introduced first on the A300/A310 Family. The A310 featured the first cockpit ever certificated for a two-member flight crew on a large airliner, using six cathode ray tube (CRT) displays on the instrument panel to replace traditional dial-type instruments. Electrical signaling also was used initially on the A310 for secondary flight control surfaces, preparing the way for Airbus’ subsequent application of digital fly-by-wire controls on the A320, A340 and A380 Family aircraft.