Airbus A340-500, the ultra-long-haul variant

A340-500 technical specifications

General data for the A340-500. Dimensions are taken from the Airbus airport planning document; capacity, weights and range depend on the variant and operating conditions.

Length

Approx. 68 m — Shorter fuselage than the A340-600

Wingspan

63.45 m — Second-generation wing with winglets

Capacity

Depends on layout — Cabin configuration specific to each operator

Engines

4 × Trent 500 — Rolls-Royce Trent 500 family turbofans

Maximum take-off weight

Depends on variant — Refer to the data applicable to the individual aircraft

Range

Ultra-long-haul — Depends on payload, variant and flight conditions

A330/A340 maintenance & type rating — A340-500

A type rating is an endorsement on a Part-66 aircraft maintenance licence for a given aircraft type and licence category. On the A330/A340 family, the exact rating designation depends on the variant and engine: the A340-500 and A340-600 are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. The applicable type and B1/B2 category should be checked against the list of type ratings published by EASA. A rating therefore does not automatically cover every aircraft in the family.

Category B1 covers, in particular, structure, powerplant and mechanical and electrical systems, as well as certain avionics tasks requiring only simple tests without troubleshooting. Category B2 covers avionics and electrical systems. The privileges exercised depend on the licence, its limitations and the certification authorisation issued by the maintenance organisation.

A Part-147 approved maintenance training organisation, within the scope of its approval, delivers type training comprising a theoretical element with examination and a practical element with assessment. For a first type rating in a given category or subcategory, on-the-job training (OJT) is also required under Part-66; it is separate from the practical element of the type training course.

Main ATA chapters

The training programme covers the systems applicable to the type and to the B1 or B2 category. Main ATA chapters covered include:

• ATA 21 — Air conditioning and pressurisation
• ATA 22, 23, 31 and 34 — Auto flight, communications, indicating/recording and navigation
• ATA 24 — Electrical power
• ATA 27 — Fly-by-wire flight controls
• ATA 28 and 29 — Fuel and hydraulic power
• ATA 32 — Landing gear
• ATA 25, 26, 30, 35, 36 and 38 — Equipment/furnishings, fire protection and other aircraft systems
• ATA 51 to 57 — Structures, fuselage, stabilisers and wings
• ATA 70 to 80 — Powerplant (Rolls-Royce Trent 500 for the A340-500/-600)

General, non-exhaustive overview: it is neither an approved training programme nor evidence of approval. Applicable requirements and rating scope must be confirmed with the competent authority and the training organisation.

• EASA — Part-66 and Part-147 rules (continuing airworthiness)
• EASA — Part-66 aircraft type ratings list

AeroPlanAI

Part-147 organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M's software, schedules your training courses, instructors and classrooms to support EASA compliance. Free 14-day trial.

The software supports the organisation of training; it does not replace the Part-147 approval or the organisation's own obligations and oversight.

A340-500 key dates

1. 2002 — Development and certification

   The A340-500 continued the development of the second-generation A340, alongside the A340-600. The A340-541 was certified by the French DGAC on 3 December 2002.

2. 2003 — Entry into commercial service

   The A340-500 entered commercial service in 2003, with Emirates as the first operator.

3. 2004 — Singapore–New York nonstop

   Singapore Airlines launched nonstop Singapore–Newark service, in the New York area, on 28 June 2004 with the A340-500. It was among the longest nonstop routes in the world in the mid-2000s.

4. Family — Two complementary variants

   Both variants share the Trent 500 engine and many systems. The A340-500 favours range; the longer A340-600 favours capacity.

Current and former A340-500 operators

Examples of historical A340-500 operators.

• Emirates
• Singapore Airlines

A340-500 vs A340-600: comparison

The A340-500 and A340-600 belong to the second-generation A340. They share the Trent 500 engine; the former is geared towards ultra-long-haul operations, the latter towards higher capacity.

i4M, aviation training tools and AeroPlanAI

AeroPlanAI

Part-147 organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M's software, schedules your training courses, instructors and classrooms to support EASA compliance. Free 14-day trial.

The software supports the organisation of training; it does not replace the Part-147 approval or the organisation's own obligations and oversight.

Aviation training

i4M develops aviation training tools and materials for maintenance and flight operations, notably within the EASA Part-66 / Part-147 framework.