A380 facing key evacuation drill

The A380 has been testing for nearly a year

The A380 superjumbo faces a crucial test of its airworthiness on Sunday when it conducts its first passenger evacuation drill.

The procedure - which will see about 650 passengers simulating an emergency evacuation - is critical to certifying the plane for public use.

Officials from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration Agency will be present.

Airbus' request for volunteers to take part was heavily oversubscribed.

Huge interest

There has been huge interest despite the fact that none of the participants will be paid and previous evacuation drills of civilian aircraft have resulted in serious injuries to volunteers.

The drill will take place in an aircraft hangar in Hamburg, the site of one the company's largest factories.

Most of those taking part will be from the local area.

KEY DRILL REQUIREMENTS 650 passengers taking part Lights will be out in cabin Half of exits will be closed Drill must feature 40% women, 35% people over 50 Passengers will not be told which exits are in use Passengers must wear their seat belts A380 maiden flight in pictures

The success of the drill will determine the number of passengers that the aircraft can legally carry when it goes into service next year.

The largest passenger plane ever built, the A380 is designed to carry 853 people.

But 650 people are expected to take part on Sunday since that is the maximum number of seats that have been requested by the plane's first customers, Singapore Airlines and Emirates Airlines.

"We are happy with anything above that," Airbus spokeswoman Barbara Kracht said of the procedure.

In the dark

The practice drill will be a nerve-wracking exercise for those taking part as well as those watching.

The passengers will have 90 seconds to get out of their seats and to exit the aircraft by one of the eight exits available - the A380 has 16 exits but half of these will be closed off.

The drill will take place in the dark and passengers will have to contend with luggage, blankets, pillows and other debris strewn across the aisles.

Those sitting in the upper tier of the twin-deck plane will find themselves 26 feet off the ground, although emergency slides will be put in place before the exercise begins.

To make the drill as realistic as possible, the volunteers must represent a broad-cross section of the population in terms of age and sex.

About 40% of those taking part must be women, while 35% have to be over the age of 50.

Three life-size dolls will be carried on board to simulate children under two-years old.

Risks attached

Past aircraft evacuation drills have not always gone off smoothly.

According to FAA records, about 4.5% of the 5,800 participants in drills between 1972 and 1991 were injured.

In the event of a serious incident, Airbus told Aviation Week, the drill will be stopped and rescheduled for 2 April.

The A380 completed its maiden flight last year but Airbus had to drop plans for an evacuation drill in 2005 because of technical problems.