China Southern Airlines' first A380 progresses well

Manufacture of the first of five Airbus A380s for China Southern Airlines is progressing well at the Final Assembly Line in Toulouse. After joining of the wings and main fuselage sections at "Station 40", the aircraft was towed on its own wheels and is now positioned inside one of the systems installation bays – "Station 30" (pictured). Here it will shortly receive its Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, auxiliary power unit (APU) and avionics, amongst other systems. The aircraft will then undergo systems testing before being flown to Hamburg to receive its cabin interior. China Southern Airlines will become the seventh operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of the aircraft in 2011.