1st A350-1000 wing leaves Broughton

The first wing for the new higher-capacity variant of the Airbus A350 airliner has left Broughton for Bremen in Germany where it will receive final fitting out before delivery to the final assembly line in Toulouse.

Source: Deeside

This wing will be used on the first of 3 A350-1000 test aircraft which will be used in the certification process and the first flight is expected during 2016.

At 32 metres long by 6 metres wide, the A350 XWB wing has the largest single part made from carbon fibre composite material in use in civil aviation today.

Source: Deeside

They are designed and developed at Airbus’ facility in Filton, near Bristol, where a number of other systems are designed and tested including fuel systems and landing gear.

Head of the Broughton Plant, Paul McKinlay said: “This is a great finale for another fantastic year at Airbus in Broughton, and it sets the scene for another great year in 2016 when this aircraft takes to the sky for the first time.”

Source: Airbus

“The A350-900 has already proved extremely popular with the airlines operating the aircraft, and their passengers and we’re justifiably proud to be part of the next chapter for this plane.”

Based on the article “Special Christmas delivery as first A350-1000 wing leaves Broughton” published in Deeside.com

Airbus explores Vietnam for A350 composite components manufacturing

According to this Vietnamese newspaper, Airbus has written to the Vietnamese Government expressing its interest in establishing a new aircraft components factory in Vietnam.

Source: Airbus

A source from the Ministry of Transport said Airbus has proposed a plan to cooperate with Vietnam in developing the aviation industry in the document sent to the Government and the ministry.

Airbus said in the document that it wants to set up the aircraft components factory in cooperation with a major industrial partner in Vietnam.

The planned-only facility in Southeast Asia will produce electrical safety belts for Airbus A320 aircraft.

Airbus stands ready to transfer technology for production of composite components for A320neo and A350 XWB aircraft to Vietnam.

Source: Airbus

Airbus declined to detail the plan as it is in the process of discussion with the Government but said it will step up cooperation with Vietnam in the aviation sector.

Airbus announced in March last year that the factory of Nikkiso Vietnam in Hanoi made composite spars and shields for the Sharklet winglet for A320 aircraft.

Source: Airbus

At present, Vietnam has several enterprises manufacturing aircraft parts including MHI Aerospace Vietnam, a member firm of Mitsubishi.

3 Vietnamese airlines – Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietjet - are operating Airbus planes for their domestic and international flights.

Based on the article “Airbus wants aircraft parts factory set up in VN” published in VietNamNet Newspaper

Lufthansa Technik preparing for A350 support at Munich

Lufthansa Technik AG is stepping up its capacities for the support of the A350

A symbolic groundbreaking marked the beginning of the expansion of a highly modern warehouse for the spare parts supply at the Munich location.

The existing warehouse of Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services is being expanded by 3,200 square meters of floor space and optimized for the A350 support amongst other things.

The currently limited warehousing capacity of LTLS in Munich in connection with the expanded material supply for a new aircraft type necessitated the expansion.

"What simply looks like a hall actually is an important cornerstone in our approach to supporting the Airbus A350," said Dr. Thomas Stüger member of the executive board of Lufthansa Technik.

"A highly modern and technologically advanced aircraft such as the A350 places high demands on us. Today proves that we are well on the way to offer a comprehensive and punctual support for the A350."

"The expanded warehouse will be equipped with the most modern and innovative storage technologies. This allows us to create the highest efficiency and optimize the utilization of both floor space and room height."

An automated block storage system AutoStore is being established at the first floor of the new warehouse. The expansion's first stage allows to store 15,000 bins. The system can be expanded by another 7,000 bins.

Based on the press release “Expansion of Airbus A350 logistics Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services”

1st Brazilian A350 on her way home.

TAM has received today their first A350.

Source: Jujug Sppoting

 

MSN24 delivery makes the 14^th A350 delivered (13^th this year) and TAM (now LATAM) is from today the 4^th operator in the world.

With register number PT-XTA (test registration F-WZFS) she was airborne on 1^st of December.

Source: Jujug Sppoting

 

During this record period of time of 15 days, there were performed 1 flight test and a Customer Acceptance flight on 8/Dec.

Source: Clement Alloing

 

But with a bird strike in this last flight, another flight test and Customer Acceptance flight on 14/Dec was required after the small rework.

 

Today´s delivery flight TAM-9950 to TAMs hub at Sao Paulo will have a stop at Belo Horizonte for paperwork (“to be nationalized”).

Source: Clement Alloing

 

TAM has became the 1st airline from the Americas to fly the A350 XWB.

 

LATAM Airlines Group, made up of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, ordered 27 A350 XWB aircraft.

Source: Airbus

 

The carrier will start operating the A350 XWB in January/2016 between Sao Paulo and Manaus.

 

This will be followed by international operations from Sao Paulo to Miami, to Madrid and to Orlando.

A350 deliveries-target for this year reviewed; 15 - 1 = 14.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders said Airbus is set to deliver 14 of its A350 wide-body jets this year, 1 fewer than targeted, as cabin-equipment suppliers struggle to meet production goals.

Source: Manuel Belleli

With yesterday's delivery of the MSN24 to TAM, there will be only 1 more delivery before year end, probably MSN20 to Finnair.

Source: A380_TLS_A350

Based on the article “Airbus Mulls A380 Revamp `In Cold Blood' as Emirates Pushes Case”published in  Bloomberg.

Constraints for the A350 in China because of the lack of early slots.

Airbus expects strong demand for widebody aircraft in China, as Chinese carriers work on their fleet plans for the next 5 years.

 

Source: Airbus

Airbus China president Eric Chen said the boom in outbound traffic, coupled with the relatively small widebody fleet in the country, will drive airlines to look at larger jets.

 

The continued bottlenecks at the country’s airports, together with air traffic congestion and a shortage of pilots, will also add to the push.

 

“I think that over the next 5 years, widebodies are going to be a key element for the development of fleet in Chinese airlines. The priority will be on the widebody,” he said.

 

Chen said Airbus has been focusing on the current A330 and its re-engined variant in China, because of the lack of early slots for the A350.

 

Source: Airbus

“For the A350 we have constraints here because airlines plan their fleet in a frame of 5 years.”

 

“So when deliveries are beyond the 5 year plan period, even those which are interested, they are very cautious to order,” he explained.

 

The next 5 year plan will cover the years 2016-2020.

 

Air China is the only Chinese customer with an order for 10 of the A350-900 variant currently, but Chen believes that the A350 will be “very popular” in the country.

 

 

Based on the article “Airbus eyes the wide game in China” pulished in FlightGlobal

 

A350 Door Trainer manufactured for Singapore Airlines.

EDM announced last month the A350 Door Trainer it manufactured for Singapore Airlines passed its Site Acceptance Test (SAT).

Source: EDM

 

After building and then shipping the A350 Door Trainer to Singapore Airlines’ Training Centre, a team from EDM travelled to Singapore in October to install the state-of-the-art simulator.

Source: @SpeedbirdSST

A senior team from the airline granted the training equipment its SAT after a rigorous inspection and testing process.

Source: @SpeedbirdSST

 

After being approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s Airworthiness Department, the Door Trainer will be employed extensively to train cabin crew in the safe operation of the A350 main door including procedures for normal, abnormal and emergency operation.

 

Source: EDM

The simulator comprises standard and customized features including a functional Additional Attendant Panel (AAP), touch screen Forward Attendant Panel (FAP), Attendant Indication Panel (AIP), tablet Instructor Operating Station (IOS) and bi-folding lavatory door and lavatory cubicle.

Source: @SpeedbirdSST

Singapore Airlines expects to begin A350 service by April 2016.

 

 

Based on the press release “SIA grants SAT to EDM A350 Door Trainer”