Beluga XL’s Kolkata return scheduled for October 13: What is Beluga, and why was its landing important for India?

Why is it called Beluga?

The Airbus Beluga gets its sanction from the whale it resembles. This unsocial craft is simply a specialised wide-body airliner designed to transport oversized cargo, including craft parts. The Beluga XL, successful particular, is susceptible of carrying some wings of an Airbus A350 jetliner.

Why Kolkata?

The Beluga XL’s landing successful Kolkata was made imaginable owed to the adjacent coordination among the Airport Authority of India (AAI), NSCBI Kolkata, the Ground Handling Agency, and Mach1 Aviation. Kolkata’s strategical determination and infrastructure made it an perfect stopover for the aircraft. “Mach1 Aviation, who is engaged to put airdrome permissions, clearances from Indian ministry and statutory authorities connected behalf of the Airbus Transport International, said that this is the archetypal travel of the ABB XL retired of Europe and the relation is readying galore much flights successful the coming future,” said an airdrome official.

Key differences betwixt Beluga XL and its predecessor

The Beluga XL is larger than its predecessor, the Beluga ST. It is 7 metres longer and 1 metre wider, providing 30% much transport capacity. The Beluga XL tin transportation a maximum payload of 51 tonnes, compared to the Beluga ST’s 44 tonnes. The Beluga XL has a scope of 4,000 kilometres (2,200 nautical miles).

The palmy landing and departure of the Beluga XL successful Kolkata people a important milestone for Indian aviation. The airport’s quality to grip specified a ample craft demonstrates its increasing capabilities and value successful the planetary aviation network. The Beluga XL is expected to instrumentality to Kolkata connected October 13 for unit remainder and refuelling, with an anticipated accomplishment astatine 6.25 am, completing its circular travel betwixt Kolkata and Tianjin.