Freighters · Airbus
Airbus A300-600 A306
The Airbus A300-600 is an improved version of the A300, the world's first twin-engine widebody airliner and Airbus's first product. In the US it flies almost exclusively as the A300-600F freighter. It can carry about 48 tonnes of cargo.
A300-600s airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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A300-600s in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- A306
- First flight
- 1983
- Typical cruise
- 450 kt / 518 mph
- Service ceiling
- 40,000 ft
- Range
- 4,000 nm / 4,603 mi
- Capacity
- ~48 t payload (A300-600F)
- Length
- 54.1 m / 177 ft
- Wingspan
- 44.8 m / 147 ft
Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80C2 or PW4000 turbofans. Family: A300. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
FedEx and UPS fly large A300-600F fleets on overnight domestic routes between their hubs and regional sorting centers. They are a regular sight late at night and before dawn over the eastern US.
Main US operators: FedEx, UPS.
How to recognize a A300-600
- Shorter, chunkier widebody than the A330, with a smaller wing.
- Small wingtip fences on most aircraft.
- Older-style Airbus cockpit windows, flatter than the A320's.
- Freighters have no passenger windows and a big main-deck cargo door on the left.
How it looks on a flight tracker
Cruises at FL280 to FL370 at 420 to 520 kt. Look for FDX and UPS callsigns on overnight hub runs.
History
The A300 first flew in 1972, and the A300-600 version entered service with Saudi Arabian Airlines in 1984. Production of all A300s ended in 2007 after 561 were built.
Where A300-600s are right now
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What is the ICAO code for the Airbus A300-600?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Airbus A300-600 is A306. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the A300-600 fly?
The Airbus A300-600 typically cruises at about 450 knots true airspeed (about 518 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the A300-600 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 40,000 ft.