Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
Airbus developed the A330 alongside the four-engine A340. The two programmes shared substantial airframe and cockpit work, but the A330 used two engines. The initial A330-300 entered service in 1994; the shorter A330-200 followed in 1998. The family includes several engine choices, different fuselage lengths and later A330neo developments.
Aircraft background
Wikipedia contributors · Read more ↗Taking a twin-engine airliner to the Antarctic ice
Mirpuri's log describes the preparation behind Hi Fly's A330 mission from Cape Town to Wolf's Fang. The aircraft carried fuel for the return as well as the outward journey, and the team monitored fuel temperature, destination weather and runway condition throughout the flight. Forecast discussions began days beforehand.
Hi Fly, 5 December 2025. Firsthand captain’s log published by the operating airline; A330 Antarctic mission, December 2025 report.
Hi Fly · Read more ↗Takeoff performance depends on completed loading
The A330 tablet can calculate takeoff references and transfer them to the flight-management system. The user selects dry or wet runway conditions, and the tablet can calculate the takeoff stabiliser setting only after loading finishes. A loading-in-progress message therefore points to a specific prerequisite.
A330 (-200, -300, 300P2F) · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
Microsoft / aircraft developers · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube AeroNewsGermany · 33 min ·
Vancouver nach Frankfurt | Airbus A330 Cockpit POV | AeroNewsGermany
A German-language cockpit journey from Vancouver to Frankfurt aboard an A330.
Real aircraft · Airbus A330 family
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Airbus A330 family
Airbus developed the A330 alongside the four-engine A340. The two programmes shared substantial airframe and cockpit work, but the A330 used two engines. The initial A330-300 entered service in 1994; the shorter A330-200 followed in 1998.
The family includes several engine choices, different fuselage lengths and later A330neo developments. These distinctions reach inside the cockpit: engine indications and fuel arrangements are not identical across every version. The simulator products cover different variants, each with its own developer documentation.
Airbus A330
Airbus → · Explore the family →
A330-200
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024 →A330-300
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024 →Laminar Research · X-Plane 12 →A330-300P2F
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024 →A330-743L BelugaXL
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024 →A330neo
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗A330-900
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗ToLiss · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12 →Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
Development milestones
First flight: 2 November 1992 ( 1992-11-02 )
Developed from: Airbus A300
Wikipedia contributors · Airbus A330 ↗Airbus A330 · family/variant named by the source · Wikipedia revision 1373820047
Pilot accounts
Taking a twin-engine airliner to the Antarctic ice
Mirpuri's log describes the preparation behind Hi Fly's A330 mission from Cape Town to Wolf's Fang. The aircraft carried fuel for the return as well as the outward journey, and the team monitored fuel temperature, destination weather and runway condition throughout the flight. Forecast discussions began days beforehand. Ground power and starting equipment at the remote strip were also part of making the twin-engine operation possible.
Four pilots shared the long duty, supported by engineers, cabin crew, a ground coordinator and colleagues at both bases. Mirpuri recalls touching down just before midnight local time, when the Antarctic summer sun was still above the horizon and katabatic winds were beginning to rise. The aircraft stopped as planned, turned and taxied to parking before returning to Cape Town later. His airline-published account stresses the contribution of the whole team to a landing intended to feel uneventful.
Hi Fly, 5 December 2025. Firsthand captain’s log published by the operating airline; A330 Antarctic mission, December 2025 report.
Read the full account · Hi Fly ↗A familiar flight deck and a sharper response on approach
Gerzanics flew the A330-800 test aircraft F-WTTO from Toulouse with Airbus test pilot Thomas Wilhelm. Although he did not routinely fly Airbus aircraft, the common cockpit felt familiar. The aircraft was still contributing to flight-control development, and a special display helped him practise the consistent sidestick input needed for the takeoff test. In the air, he found it easy to establish bank angles and roll out accurately on a heading.
On the return, the instrument landing system's glideslope went out of service. Wilhelm suggested using the head-up display while setting up an alternative ground-augmented satellite approach. Gerzanics then assessed the aircraft's response by deliberately offsetting from, and rejoining, the final approach course. He found the response crisp and the landing straightforward. This was an organised evaluation in an instrumented A330-800, including test manoeuvres.
Flight International, 2019. Firsthand evaluation of A330-800 MSN1888 during development; publication context is 2019.
Read the full account · Flight International ↗Learning to wait for a larger aircraft’s response
After thirteen years flying the A320 family around Europe, Harder was preparing to return to long-haul work on the A330. He describes receiving the training assignment after applying for a conversion, then working through technical material at home before moving into procedural and full-flight simulators. His Airbus experience shortened part of the training, but the new aircraft still had different systems to learn.
Asked how the A330 felt in the simulator, he noticed a more delayed response to control inputs, reminding him of his earlier experience as a Boeing 747 first officer. He had to allow a little time for the larger aircraft to respond. At the time of the interview, his simulator check and line training still lay ahead. His conversion training took place in the simulator; he had not yet completed his A330 qualification.
aeroTELEGRAPH, 5 May 2023. German-language interview with an experienced captain during A330 simulator conversion training; actual A330 line flying was still ahead.
Read the full account · aeroTELEGRAPH ↗In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Compare simulator versions →MSFS 2024A330 (-200, -300, 300P2F)
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
A330 (-200, -300, 300P2F)
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
MSFS 2024A330-743L Beluga XL
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
A330-743L Beluga XL
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
X-Plane 12Airbus A330-300
Laminar Research · Released
Airbus A330-300
Laminar Research · Released
X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12A330-900
ToLiss · Released
A330-900
ToLiss · Released
MSFS 2024Aerosoft A330-900neo
Aerosoft · Released
Aerosoft A330-900neo
Aerosoft · Released
X-Plane 12A330-300
AeroGenesis · Released
A330-300
AeroGenesis · Released
MSFS 2020A339X A330-900neo
Headwind Simulations · Released
A339X A330-900neo
Headwind Simulations · Released
X-Plane 12A330
JARDesign · Released
A330
JARDesign · Released
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024Airbus A330-200
LVFR · Released
Airbus A330-200
LVFR · Released
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024Airbus A330-300
LVFR · Released
Airbus A330-300
LVFR · Released
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024Airbus A330-900neo
LVFR · Released
Airbus A330-900neo
LVFR · Released
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
Takeoff performance depends on completed loadingA330 (-200, -300, 300P2F) · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
The A330 tablet can calculate takeoff references and transfer them to the flight-management system. The user selects dry or wet runway conditions, and the tablet can calculate the takeoff stabiliser setting only after loading finishes. A loading-in-progress message therefore points to a specific prerequisite.
iniBuilds A330 manual v1.0.1, 17 September 2024; documented simulator behaviour · PDF p.34
Microsoft / aircraft developers · Read the source ↗The -200 and -300 have different fuel arrangementsA330 (-200, -300, 300P2F) · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
The iniBuilds A330 guide distinguishes the -200's centre-tank configuration from the -300 and describes the horizontal-stabiliser trim tank. It also covers hydraulic preparation and engine-specific indications. Engine and airframe combinations are identified by variant throughout the manual.
Archived simulator manual; installed package revision not observed · PDF pp.77,114; variants
Microsoft / aircraft developers · Read the source ↗The BelugaXL has a dedicated operating guideA330-743L Beluga XL · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
The BelugaXL's oversized transport role comes with a separately published cockpit and operating guide. It includes its own hydraulic-system preparation. The XL guide covers its specialised cargo configuration.
Archived simulator manual; installed package revision not observed · PDF p.77; engine-start preparation
Microsoft / aircraft developers · Read the source ↗Sidestick commands and automatic trimAirbus A330-300 · Laminar Research · X-Plane 12
Laminar's A330 guide explains load-factor-related sidestick behaviour, automatic trim and its relationship to bank and load conditions. It also identifies three hydraulic systems. These systems are documented for Laminar's aircraft.
Archived simulator manual; installed package revision not observed · PDF pp.18,24; FBW behavior
Laminar Research · Read the source ↗Loading a large object also changes the weightsA330-743L Beluga XL · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024
The BelugaXL's cargo page loads and unloads visible cargo, with assigned weights for some objects. Starting that load can override a previously entered zero-fuel weight or SimBrief payload. The manual calls for checking the final weights on the payload page after cargo loading, including when a plan was imported first.
iniBuilds BelugaXL manual v1.0.0, 16 September 2024; documented simulator behaviour · PDF p.31
Microsoft / aircraft developers · Read the source ↗Pilot account
Taking a twin-engine airliner to the Antarctic iceHi Fly, 5 December 2025. Firsthand captain’s log published by the operating airline; A330 Antarctic mission, December 2025 report.
Mirpuri's log describes the preparation behind Hi Fly's A330 mission from Cape Town to Wolf's Fang. The aircraft carried fuel for the return as well as the outward journey, and the team monitored fuel temperature, destination weather and runway condition throughout the flight. Forecast discussions began days beforehand. Ground power and starting equipment at the remote strip were also part of making the twin-engine operation possible.
Carlos Mirpuri
Hi Fly · Read the source ↗A familiar flight deck and a sharper response on approachFlight International, 2019. Firsthand evaluation of A330-800 MSN1888 during development; publication context is 2019.
Gerzanics flew the A330-800 test aircraft F-WTTO from Toulouse with Airbus test pilot Thomas Wilhelm. Although he did not routinely fly Airbus aircraft, the common cockpit felt familiar. The aircraft was still contributing to flight-control development, and a special display helped him practise the consistent sidestick input needed for the takeoff test. In the air, he found it easy to establish bank angles and roll out accurately on a heading.
Mike Gerzanics
Flight International · Read the source ↗Developer documentation
A330-300 — product listingA330-300 · X-Plane 12
Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
AeroGenesis · Read the source ↗A339X A330-900neo — product listingA339X A330-900neo · MSFS 2020
Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
Headwind Simulations · Read the source ↗A330 — product listingA330 · X-Plane 12
Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
store.x-plane.org · Read the source ↗Airbus A330-200 — product listingAirbus A330-200 · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
LVFR · Read the source ↗Airbus A330-300 — product listingAirbus A330-300 · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
LVFR · Read the source ↗Airbus A330-900neo — product listingAirbus A330-900neo · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
LVFR · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Manual
Airbus A330Microsoft / aircraft developers Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft manualsMicrosoft / aircraft developers Airbus Beluga XLMicrosoft / aircraft developers Airbus A330-300 POHLaminar Research X-Plane 12 Desktop ManualLaminar Research X-Plane aircraft and avionics manualsLaminar ResearchAircraft background
Airbus A330Wikipedia contributors · Research background · Wikipedia revision 1373820047 · retrieved 2026-09-12Resource
MSFS 2024 FAQ and edition aircraft inventoryMicrosoft A330-900 change logToLissProduct
A330 900ToLiss · Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12 A330-300AeroGenesis · Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue A339X A330-900neoHeadwind Simulations · Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue JARDesign 330 Airliner -JARDesign-A330store.x-plane.org · Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue Airbus A330-200 exact product reviewLVFR · Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue Airbus A330-300 exact product reviewLVFR · Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue Airbus A330-900neo exact product reviewLVFR · Product listing captured 2026-09-24; edition scope from the reviewed catalogueType designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Developer documentation
Aerosoft Aircraft A330 neoAerosoft / Just Flight · Product listing captured 28 September 2026; A330-900neo, MSFS 2024Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 19 profile choices
AeroGenesis A330-300 (RR / PW / GE)
AeroGenesis · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
AeroGenesis A330-300 (RR / PW / GE): Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Aerosoft Airbus A330-900neo
Aerosoft · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2024
Aerosoft Airbus A330-900neo: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Headwind Simulations A339X A330-900 / ACJ330neo
Headwind Simulations · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020
Headwind Simulations A339X A330-900 / ACJ330neo: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-200 GE
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-200 GE: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-200 RR
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-200 RR: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-300 GE
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-300 GE: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-300 RR
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-300 RR: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-300P2F GE
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-300P2F GE: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
iniBuilds A330-300P2F RR
iniBuilds · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2024
iniBuilds A330-300P2F RR: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
JARDesign Airbus A330-200
JARDesign · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
JARDesign Airbus A330-200: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
LVFR Airbus A330-200
LVFR · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
LVFR Airbus A330-200: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
LVFR Airbus A330-300
LVFR · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
LVFR Airbus A330-300: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
LVFR Airbus A330-900neo
LVFR · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
LVFR Airbus A330-900neo: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
ToLiss A330-900
ToLiss · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
ToLiss A330-900: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Airbus A330-300
Free and Pro · Revision 4 · Partial review
MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Airbus A330-300: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Airbus A330-200
Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Airbus A330-200: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Airbus A330-300P2F
Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Airbus A330-300P2F: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL
Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Partial review
MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
Airbus A330-900
Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
Airbus A330-900: Fixed sidestick centering represents the Airbus control arrangement while keeping aircraft control-law behavior separate from hardware resistance.
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