Trailer-truck trajectory optimization for Airbus A380 component transportation

Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer has started a program for developing the biggest aircraft ever built: the Airbus A380 which will be able to carry 550 passengers on two decks in the three classes version (Figure 1). The six components of the airplane (two wings, rear, central and front fuselages, and horizontal tail plane) are to be produced in different European cities (Figure 2). They need to be transported from these cities to Toulouse in France for assembly. Several means of transportation have been investigated. The solution chosen by Airbus in coordination with the French government is to carry the components by boat from each production site to Langon, a harbour near Bordeaux and from there to Toulouse by road on truck convoys. The very first convoy is scheduled in fall 2003. Driving the six A380 components on trucks between two cities 200 km far from each other is a real challenge. Indeed, the sizes of the trucks together with their freights can reach 12.5 meter height, 8 meter width and 50 meter length.