Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide - Airbus A310

Background

The A310 is a shortened derivative of the Airbus A300. Perhaps the greatest attribute of the A310 is that of range. The A310-300's range exceeds all A300 models and the -200 exceeds all A300 models in range except the A300-600. This quality has led to the aircraft being used extensively on transatlantic routes. The A300 and A310 introduced the concept of commonality which has become one of the Airbus family's greatest marketing points: A300-600 and A310 pilots can qualify for the other aircraft with only one day of training.

Like its sister aircraft, the Airbus A300, the A310 is reaching the end of its market life as a passenger and cargo aircraft. There have been no new A310 passenger orders since the late 1990s, and only a few freighter orders remain. The A310 (along with the A300) will cease production in July of 2007. Freighter sales are to be fulfilled by a new A330-200F derivative.

Although production of the A310 has been scheduled to cease in July 2005, there have been no orders or deliveries since 1998. At the end of 1998 there had been 260 A310 orders and 255 delivered.

The aircraft was formally launched in July 1978 for Lufthansa and Swissair. A further development of the A300, the aircraft was initially designated the A300 B10. Essentially a "baby" A300, the main differences in the two aircraft are

- Shortened fuselage - same cross section, providing capacity of about 200.
- Redesigned wing - designed by British Aerospace who rejoined Airbus consortium
- Smaller vertical fin

The A310 is marketed as an excellent introduction to widebody operations for developing airlines. With the Airbus A330 now a major success, further orders for the A310 are unlikely. Between 1983 and 1997, 255 A310s were delivered by Airbus. The A300 and A310 established Airbus as a major competitor to Boeing and allowed it to go ahead with the more ambitious A330/A340 family.

The A310 has also been extensively used with the armed forces of many countries, including but not limited to:

• Belgium

• Canada (designation CC-150 Polaris)

• France

• Germany

• Thailand

Recognizing the A310

The A310 is an tricky aircraft to identify in flight and on the ground and can be easily confused with the A300.  Here's how you can easily identify an A310, without knowing what airlines operate the aircraft:

Wings:
Engines:
Fuselage:
Tail:

Specifications

Sources: Wikipedia Airbus A310

© 2006-2007 Steven Holzinger