KOLKATA- The Airbus Beluga XL or BelugaXL, renowned as the world’s largest cargo aircraft, touched down at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata early Monday (October 14, 2024).
Landing at 5:47 am, the colossal plane arrived from China’s Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN).
Airbus BelugaXL Returns to Kolkata
An Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson revealed the aircraft’s stopover serves multiple purposes. The crew requires rest, the plane needs refueling, and the stay ensures compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).
Airbus Beluga XL operated flight 4Y8005, which took off from Tianjin at 2:27 AM and landed safely at Kolkata at 5:47 AM.
Note: All this time mentioned above are local timings.
The aircraft involved in operating this special flight is registered as F-GXLN. It is a 2.2-year-old aircraft and is designated as XL5, i.e. the fifth aircraft in a fleet of six aircraft.
Other Beluga XL aircraft have registration F-GXLG, F-GXLH, F-GXLI, F-GXLJ, and F-GXLO.
The Beluga XL’s departure is set for Tuesday at 3:30 pm, with Bahrain International Airport (BAH) as its next destination. This visit marks another appearance of the massive aircraft in Kolkata, showcasing the city’s capability to handle such large-scale aviation operations.
The AAI spokesperson noted a change in the original schedule. Initially planned for October 13, the Beluga XL’s return to Kolkata faced a delay of nearly 24 hours.
AAI on its official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle wrote, ‘The return of the Airbus Beluga has been delayed by 24 hours.’
- New ETA: CCU, OCT 14 @ 0600 IST
- New ETD: CCU, OCT 15 @ 1530 IST
First Flight to Kolkata
The Beluga XL’s journey began with its maiden flight in 2018, followed by a significant milestone in November 2019 when it received type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This certification paved the way for the aircraft’s entry into service in January 2020, marking the beginning of its operational career.
The aircraft’s recent flight originated from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France. Its mission involves transporting crucial equipment and parts to Airbus’s facility in Tianjin, China.
The Beluga XL made its second appearance in Kolkata on Monday, following its initial visit on October 8.
On October 8, Airbus BelugaXL landed for the first time at Kolkata Airport after operating a flight as 4Y8003.
This massive aircraft, part of Airbus’s Beluga series, specializes in transporting oversized cargo, particularly aircraft components. The Beluga XL surpasses its predecessor, the Beluga ST, with a 30% increase in cargo capacity.
Airbus reports the Beluga XL’s impressive dimensions: 207 feet in length, 62 feet in height, and a wingspan of nearly 198 feet. It boasts a maximum payload of 51 tonnes, exceeding the Beluga ST’s 44-tonne capacity.
The aircraft’s 4,000-kilometer range (2,200 nautical miles) enhances Airbus’s global logistics operations.
Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) authorities celebrated the Beluga XL’s initial landing on social media platform X. They highlighted the aircraft’s role in transporting essential aircraft components, marking a significant milestone for the airport.
The NSCBI Airport stands as the sole facility in Eastern India capable of accommodating such a large aircraft.
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