Airbus · Four-engine long-haul aircraft
Airbus A340-600, the longest member of the A340 family
The stretched, second-generation A340-600 is a four-engine, wide-body long-haul aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. It shares its flight deck and many systems with the A330. An aircraft showcase published by i4M, aviation training tools.
Performance
A340-600 technical specifications
Key A340-600 data; weights and range depend on the certified take-off weight variant.
Length
75.4 m
The longest A340 variant
Wingspan
63.5 m
Enlarged wing shared with the A340-500
Typical seating
Over 300 passengers
Depending on the operator’s cabin configuration
Engines
4 × Rolls-Royce Trent 500
The sole engine family for the A340-500/-600
MTOW
Variant-dependent
Several maximum take-off weight variants have been certified
Range
Long-haul
Depends on weight variant, payload and operating conditions
Maintenance training
A340-600 maintenance & type rating
A type rating is an endorsement on a Part-66 aircraft maintenance licence for a specific aircraft type and licence category. Within the A330/A340 family, the exact rating designation depends on the variant and engine installation: the A340-500 and A340-600 use Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. A rating therefore does not automatically cover every aircraft in the family.
Category B1 covers, in particular, aircraft structure, powerplant, mechanical and electrical systems, as well as work on avionics systems requiring only simple tests to prove serviceability and no 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 delivers type training within its approved scope, including theoretical training and examination, and practical training and assessment. For the first type rating in a given category or subcategory, on-the-job training (OJT) is also required under Part-66. OJT is separate from the practical element of the type training course.
Major ATA chapters
Training covers the systems applicable to the aircraft type and the B1 or B2 category. Major ATA chapters include:
- ATA 21 — Air conditioning and pressurisation
- ATA 22, 23, 31 and 34 — Auto flight, communications, indicating/recording systems 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, fire protection and other aircraft systems
- ATA 51 to 57 — Structures, fuselage, stabilisers and wings
- ATA 70 to 80 — Rolls-Royce Trent 500 powerplant
This general, non-exhaustive overview is neither an approved training syllabus nor evidence of approval. Confirm the applicable requirements and type rating scope with the competent authority and the training organisation.
AeroPlanAI
Part-147 training organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M’s scheduling software, plans your courses, instructors and rooms to support EASA compliance. Free 14-day trial.
The software supports training management; it does not replace Part-147 approval or the organisation’s regulatory obligations and oversight.
History
A340-600 milestones
- 1997
Programme launch
Airbus launches the A340-500 and A340-600, the second-generation A340 variants, with an enlarged wing and Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines.
- 2001
First flight
The A340-600 makes its first flight from Toulouse.
- 2002
Entry into service
The aircraft enters service, with Virgin Atlantic among its first operators.
- Market
Competing with large wide-bodies
The A340-600 was positioned against the large four-engine wide-body aircraft of its era, serving high-demand long-haul routes.
Operators
Past and present A340-600 operators
Examples of past and present A340-600 operators.
- Virgin Atlantic
- Lufthansa
- Cathay Pacific
- Iberia
- Etihad Airways
- Qatar Airways
- South African Airways
Airbus family
A340-600 and A340-500: a comparison
The A340-500 is a shorter variant of the same generation, designed for very long-range operations. The A340-600 prioritises passenger capacity.
| Feature | A340-500 | A340-600 |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | Second-generation A340 | Second-generation A340 |
| Engines | 4 × Trent 500 | 4 × Trent 500 |
| Fuselage | Shorter | Longest in the A340 family |
| Market focus | Greater range | Greater capacity |
Publisher
i4M, aviation training tools and AeroPlanAI
AeroPlanAI
Part-147 training organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M’s scheduling software, plans your courses, instructors and rooms to support EASA compliance. Free 14-day trial.
The software supports training management; it does not replace Part-147 approval or the organisation’s regulatory obligations and oversight.
Aviation training
i4M develops aviation training tools and materials for aircraft maintenance and operations, including training within the EASA Part-66 / Part-147 framework.
i4M aviation training tools