This is my first blog entry with images and a long written experience. I have split it into my story first and some pictures after the story… Please feel free to comment about the style / my experience here.I got this opportunity as a employee of Emirates Airline. The story started well before the third week of July when a news item sparked in the GroupWorld – Emirates Group’s intranet site about the test flight for A380 that Airbus would be flying in United Arab Emirates in partnership with Emirates Airlines. Staffs in the Emirates Group were given opportunity to enrol for this and would be selected in random basis.
As usual, I clicked the relevant links in the page and put my name in the draw. I literally had forgotten about this in next few days.
On 24th July 2007, a mail was waiting in my Inbox to say that I was one of the ‘lucky’ people to participate in the A380 test flight. Excitement peaked and I sent mails to my friends and the date was announced as 17th Aug 2007.
And again as usual I had forgotten the whole story. Around first week of August I remembered about this flight and was worried that I didn’t receive any e-ticket as mentioned in the earlier communications. I was also wondering whom to contact for the same. Just 2 days before the flight I got the ticket and excitement restarted in my mind again. And the day came, 17th Aug 2007.
We were told that we can bring the cameras for capturing the memories. We were allowed to use the “self check-in” facility.
Something to mention about the seating here. Seating arrangements were also random. I was given a seat in the upper deck / first floor. Cool.
We got the rate opportunity to take pictures inside the airport – which I have never dared to do before, for reasons of travel tensions and of course airport regulations.
Well, got some snaps of me and the airport in the check-in area before proceeding to the immigration procedure.
We proceeded with the immigration pass. Actually we passed through the basic checks but the visa / passport formalities were not done. Which means – we were literally on the fast track.
However we had to walk through the airport towards the gate, as usual.
We were waiting in the gate for some time and the flight arrived. I saw more number of cameras in this place than any where else. ;)
We then saw the crew going into the plane to clean and make things ready for us. We boarded and started feeling the excitement.
Lots of big heads from various departments were waiting for the boarding. Well this is not a ‘test’ flight then ;) ;) ;)
As I said I boarded in the upper deck or the first floor. The seating were 2+4+2 and was also 3+3+3 in some place.
There was a huge leg space, unlike other Emirates flight which I hate to digest. Hope Emirates does the similar arrangements for all flights and gives us some comfortable journey. The head room was also huge and the baggage compartments – no complaints at all.
The flight took off on time. Smooth take-off and all were thrilled.
Then the announcements came about the take off. We heard the huge lecture of the flight which can also browsed here - http://www.airbus.com/en/. So, I am not going to explain it here now – sorry.
We were provided with the snack box. I got the non-veg meal that had
- Turkey Sandwich
- Chocolate
- A juice
- Water
- Other eats :P
We were then allowed to go round the flight for some time. Huge flight – did I mention it before? Else, pardon me for mentioning it so late.
The stairs connecting the upper and lower level is a straight steps formation in the front (image in this article). The stairs in the backside is like a rotational (Sorry – no image).
I saw some part of the movie “I, Robot”. I need to complete the movie sometime in the weekend.
People went crazy taking photos and seeing the plane in all corners.
The return was smooth and simple landing with all people clapping for their experience.
Finally we landed near the “Emirates Engineering Centre” building where Emirates would do its functions before A380 goes back to its place.
We didn’t go through the tedious passport control. We had to give the other piece of boarding pass (thank God I took a picture) as a part of exit procedure.
I then took off to home in my A380 (people call it as Toyota Camry) and the day ended.
Pictures, pictures, pictures…
Start with the Self check-in.
Here I am at one of the “self check-in” counters getting ready for my check in process. There were MANY counters like this for the “self check-in”.
Got the boarding pass and caught a picture of it.
Snaps from the place where we did the check-in
Walking inside the airport towards the gates.
Then we walked through the duty free shops and finally reached the Gate 25.
As time neared by people were allowed to enter the gate and wait inside to catch glimpse of the runway etc. Some pictures from the gate.
Me in front of the flight’s boarding place…
The grand A380 arrived.
We knew there is plenty of time to get into the boarding now. So, time for some more pictures.
Units readying for the flight
A380 arrived and you can see its tyres. Few crew waiting for the doors to be opened and start their operations.
Some other flight takeoff
More crew getting ready for the flight.
Passenger arriving from up and lower level
Crew boarding for the cleaning process
EK Flight landed and some process
Boarding process started
A380 waits…
Shankar with A380
Me in front of A380
Boarding process was over and I am in my seat now.
All features of this flight – please see here - http://www.airbus.com/en/
Something I found and was impressed with the flight…
- A camera is fixed outside the plane, that gives the view like this,
We were give chance to roam inside the flight for a long time…
Business class seating,
Stairs in the front side of the plane
First Class Seats
Pantry looked like a bar
After the 2 hours trip on air we landed.
People were still landing
The plane is huge and here it is,
The Majestic Emirates Engineering Centre which was holding this A380 for some days…
