As many of you are aware, the Airbus A380 has a number of setbacks and delays on the way to production, primarily having to do with problems with wiring.

Basically, the wiring guys and the structures guys had problems interfacing with each other, and so EADS had to implement a new production standard, “Wave 2”, for the ramp up to full production.

What they have been shipping has had much more in the way of touch labor than they would have liked, and so has been much slower and more expensive.

Well, Airbus has now flown its first A380 constructed using their “Wave 2” production standard, which clears the way for full rate production.

(the picture is of a Wave-1 aircraft)