Being the eyes of the A380 customers

“I am the eyes of our customers before the customers receive the aircraft,” says Yves, who does not hide the sheer delight he gets from his job.” He is part of a team of some 60 people all seconded from the different departments of customer services, who follow the tests with the quality team of the flight test to prepare the A380s entry into service.

“We try to simulate or re-create a context as similar as possible to regular airline operations within the flight tests environment. We use it to identify possible issues and ensure the entry into service is as smooth and seamless as possible,” explains Yves.

“On an air show like this, you don’t have all the facilities and support we have in Toulouse. So with the need to fly the aircraft at least once every day, it reproduces fairly well the demands of commercial service,” he says.

This is not the first time he has prepared an entry into service during his 25 years as Airbus field representative. He was resident with Air France for the delivery of their first A320 and again with Iberia for their first A340-600. But none of this comes close to the experience of the A380. Airbus has implemented a structure that allows customer services to give feedback and point out any potential area of trouble.

“We have been very well accepted by the entire flight test team. They all understand what we do and why we are doing it. I have found them really receptive to our point of view. It’s a super experience,” he says.