Airbus A340-300, the four-engine long-haul member of the A330/A340 family

A340-300 technical specifications

Key A340-300 data; weights and range depend on the certified take-off weight variant.

Length

63.7 m — Same fuselage as the A330-300

Wingspan

60.3 m — Wing shared with the A330, fitted with winglets

Typical seating

Approx. 250 to 300 passengers — Depending on the operator's cabin layout

Engines

4 × CFM56-5C — The only engine family offered on the A340-300

MTOW

Variant-dependent — Several take-off weight variants have been certified

Range

Long-haul — Depending on weight variant, payload and operating conditions

A340-300 maintenance & type rating

A type rating is an endorsement on a Part-66 aircraft maintenance licence for a given aircraft type and licence category. The A340-300 belongs to the A330/A340 family, whose exact type rating designation depends on the variant and engine type; the A340-300 is powered by CFM56-5C engines. A single 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 with no troubleshooting. Category B2 covers avionics and electrical systems. The privileges that may be exercised depend on the licence and its limitations, and on the certification authorisation issued by the maintenance organisation.

Within the scope of its approval, a Part-147 approved maintenance training organisation delivers aircraft type training made up of 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 syllabus covers the systems applicable to the type and to the B1 or B2 category. The main ATA chapters 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 (CFM56-5C)

General, non-exhaustive overview: it is neither an approved training syllabus nor evidence of approval. Applicable requirements and the scope of the type rating 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 approved maintenance training organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M's planning software, schedules your courses, instructors and classrooms in line with EASA requirements. Free trial: 14 days.

The software supports training organisation; it does not replace the Part-147 approval, nor the organisation's own obligations and quality controls.

A340-300 milestones

1. 1987 — Programme launch

   Airbus jointly launches the A330 and A340 programmes, which share the wing, the flight deck and most systems.

2. 1991 — First flight

   The A340 makes its first flight in Toulouse, ahead of the A330.

3. 1993 — Entry into service

   The A340-300 enters service, with Lufthansa and Air France among its first operators.

4. 2000s — End of production

   A340 family production ends in the late 2000s, while the A330 remains in production.

Current and former A340-300 operators

Examples of past and present A340-300 operators.

• Lufthansa
• Air France
• Swiss
• Iberia
• Cathay Pacific
• Air Canada
• SAS
• Turkish Airlines

A340-300 vs A330-300

The A330-300 is the twin-engine counterpart developed alongside the A340-300, with the same fuselage and wing. The A340-300 uses four engines.

i4M, aviation training tools and AeroPlanAI

AeroPlanAI

Part-147 approved maintenance training organisation? AeroPlanAI, i4M's planning software, schedules your courses, instructors and classrooms in line with EASA requirements. Free trial: 14 days.

The software supports training organisation; it does not replace the Part-147 approval, nor the organisation's own obligations and quality controls.

Aviation training

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