Airbus Industrie recently completed a series of route proving lights using its yet to receive certification A330. The A330 route proving trials are used to test the type's ability to operate under airline conditions, and to this end it recently few more than 100 hours operating within Malaysia Airlines' route structure. This programme involved short domestic flights within Malaysia, through to regional fights to Asia and Australia (visiting Perth, Adelaide & Darwin), and long range missions to Johannesburg in South Africa, a fight at the edge of the A330's range capability, and performed under 120 minutes ETOP rules. After trials with Malaysia, the A330 was then due to operate route proving fights with Air Inter within Europe. This aircraft is in fact destined to the French carrier, but for the purposes of the route proving programme, bore this hybrid livery. (John Wiebusch)