Etihad's new freighter survives the big freeze

Airbus has undertaken cold-weather testing of its A330-200 freighter – the launch customer of which is Etihad Airways.

The tests took place in northern Canada last week and now the aircraft and is being prepared for hot-weather trials in the Asia-Pacific region..

Airbus says that the testing – which involved the freighter operating in temperatures down to minus 30°C - is not for certification but to verify system performance guarantees to customers, and check the response of modifications introduced during the freighter's development.

These include checks on the main cargo door, following cold-soak of the twin-jet to minus 27°C inside the cabin, as well as the auxiliary power unit and electrical systems.

Technical personnel also tested the air conditioning system, notably its ability to restore the cabin to a specific temperature.

Airbus is fitting the aircraft's interior with a partial cargo loading system and is preparing to fly the jet to Asia where it will undergo another set of tests in hot and humid conditions.