@Smano
The A380 has already began commercial services..Emirates is flying from Dubai to Heathrow,Toronto,Sydney,Auckland and Bangkok..They have discontinued services to NY. Qantas has a service to Sydney as well.
@BamBam
Two A380's in a mid air collision,don't you think that is a bit far fetched ..here's why:
In November 2006,the ICAO issued new interim recommendations. Replacing a blanket 10 nautical miles (19 km) separation for aircraft trailing an A380 during approach,the new distances were 6 nmi (11 km),8 nmi (15 km) and 10 nmi (19 km) respectively for non-A380 'Heavy','Medium',and 'Light' ICAO aircraft categories.
These compared with the 4 nmi (7.4 km),5 nmi (9.3 km) and 6 nmi (11 km) spacing applicable to other 'Heavy' aircraft. Another A380 following an A380 should maintain a separation of 4 nmi (7.4 km). On departure behind an A380,non-A380 'Heavy' aircraft are required to wait two minutes,and 'Medium'/'Light' aircraft three minutes for time based operations. The ICAO also recommends that pilots append the term 'Super' to the aircraft's callsign when initiating communication with air traffic control,in order to distinguish the A380 from 'Heavy' aircraft.
In August 2008,the ICAO issued revised approach separations of 4 nmi (7.4 km) for Super (another A380),6 nmi (11 km) for Heavy,7 nmi (13 km) for medium/small,and 8 nmi (15 km) for light.
Also regarding the failure history of the vertical fins on the A300 - series aircraft infact an analysis of its structure at the point of failure will likely yield the primary cause factor in the breakup of the aircraft in the earlier Air France case.
I hope this latest incidence will force the issue to be addressed requiring a minimum restricted operations of selected platforms and grounding some high-time aircraft until a re-engineered vertical/fin rudder attachment can be incorporated.
The fin failure leading to break up has reached alarming levels at Airbus Industires.
On a different note i have the MS 2008 simulator..on DVD i have landed the A380 with 2 failed engines and a broken front landing gear..any one want to better that!!!!
Success is not measured by what you accomplish,but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against the overwhelming odds'
The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic.