Hispano-Suiza (Safran) is the French supplier for the Power Transmission System of the A350 XWB Engine.

The Trent XWB-84 engine (Rolls-Royce) set to fit out the new Airbus A350 XWB, passed certification on February 7, 2013. Hispano-Suiza (Safran) has been chosen to supply the engine’s entire power transmission system.

The power transmission system was specially designed to guarantee optimal performance in the A350XWB’s engine, the Trent XWB-84. It includes the very latest in manufacturing-process and supply-chain-management innovation. It is divided into six main components: the AGB (Accessory Gear Box), the TGB (Transfer Gear Box), the angle driveshaft, the IGB bevel gears (Internal Gear Box), the SAGB (Step Aside Gear Box), and the oil tank, supplied by the Techspace Aero (Safran) subsidiary, ACI.

 

“The new contract is just the next step forward in our almost 30-year relationship with Rolls-Royce. When Hispano-Suiza and Rolls-Royce signed the agreement in 2008, we became the exclusive supplier for every version of the Airbus A350 XWB’s power transmission system.” said Yannick Bonnaire, Hispano-Suiza’s Vice President for Programs.

“The contract covers the entire life cycle, and includes both the initial supplies and maintaining them during operations. That’s why our equipment has to be reliable.”

 

“Hispano-Suiza is supplying the full chain, made up of six major components, from the high-pressure and radial driveshaft bevel gears (which recover the power needed on the shaft) right down to the accessory gearbox, including the gears. Our system can develop 800 kW of power, and is fully in line to meet the performance requirements of next-generation engines. Its behavior has already been validated in all flight phases on the test bench at Hispano-Suiza’s production site in Colombes.” said Bonnaire.

“Ramping up production to two or three times what we were used to on our last programs is going to be a major challenge.”

 

Based on the press release “Hispano-Suiza On Board the A350 XWB” published by Safran

A350 XWB engine nacelles will be blue for British Airways

  

Airbus does not like many customizations in the final paint of components that are in the same color for the majority of airlines. For example the engine nacelles and wings. Each request is evaluated “case by case”.

 

But some airlines have their image linked to a color and British Airways (as United) will have the engine nacelles painted in the carrier's traditional blue.

If all the fleet have blue nacelles, the A350 XWB will have them blue painted keeping with the scheme on the rest of its fleet.

The first A380 for British has blue nacelles.

Boeing was also considering the same issue in British Airways´ 787 that finally have had their nacelles painted in blue. "We need to evaluate each custom color request because different colors may require different thicknesses to achieve the desired appearance," Boeing said.

"We need to ensure that the thickness required does not exceed the design tolerance."

The paint is crucial to the aircraft's economics because laminar flow reduces skin friction drag, and cuts fuel burn, but it requires a smooth surface with minimal boundary disruption.

Even the thickness of paint layers can interrupt the laminar flow between the engine inlet and the surface of the nacelle.

Based on the article “British Airways 787 emerges with blue nacelles” published in Flightglobal.

No news about the long-delayed purchase of 25 A350-900s by France-KLM. “It should be signed during 2013."

Air France-KLM continues the commercial and contract discussions with Airbus and Rolls-Royce concerning the long awaited signature of a definitive order for 25 A350 jets “without however see a cause for concern" as stated last week.

"The contract is still being negotiated with Airbus. It should be signed during 2013."

Air France-KLM placed the provisional $7 billion order for 25 wide-bodied A350-900 passenger jets in September 2011 at the same time as ordering 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a deal which has since been confirmed.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon was Air France CEO when the procisional order was placed.

Air France-KLM said in a statement it lost 630 million euros in the January-March quarter, compared to a loss of 379 million euros a year earlier. Last year's result benefited from a 220 million euros gain on the airline's hedging contracts.

The airline, in the midst of a three-year turnaround plan, said it hopes to strengthen its position by paying down debt and reducing staff costs further.

Air France-KLM is struggling to compete against low-cost carriers and has said it expects to cut about 5,000 people in its workforce of 49,000. It said the plan is on track despite "a difficult and uncertain environment."

Based on the article “Contrat A350: Air France continue de discuter avec Airbus et Rolls-Royce” published in AFP



A350 XWB is the first commercial aircraft capable of flying with total hydraulic failure.

A350 XWB is the first commercial airplane to adopt EHAs (electrohydrostatic actuators) flight control technologies, a step forward to the “all-electric airplane”. EHAs are electrically powered but use hydraulic pumps and reservoirs that transform electrical power into hydraulic power.

Main advantage is the large savings in terms of weight and space (e.g., reduction in the size of pipelines, actuators and other components, power generation equipment, tubing, amount of fluid required), as well as ease of installation.

 

A350 XWB is the first commercial aircraft capable of flying with total hydraulic failure, using electricity to operate the flight control surfaces.

Moog is providing the design, integration and certification support for the Primary Flight Control Actuation on the A350 XWB.  Moog provides 27 discrete actuators and associated control electronics on this program.  This system includes a mix of electrohydraulic (EH) and advanced electrohydrostatic (EHA) actuators to control the aileron, elevator, rudder and spoiler flight surfaces.

Moog is also supplying the Trailing Edge Actuation System for the A350 XWB including the power control unit, inboard and outboard geared rotary actuators, gearboxes, wing tip brakes and other miscellaneous components.

 

 Moog is pioneering the use of Electrohydrostatic Actuator (EHA) technology in flight controls for the next generation of military and commercial aircraft.  Moog has spent the last 2 decades refining and maturing EHA technology, readying it for today’s modern aircraft.

Over this period, Moog has developed simplex and dual redundant actuators, dual and triplex redundant actuator controllers and highly integrated designs with on-board power and control electronics. Moog’s EHA technology is being used as the basis for both the A400M and A350 XWB.

Alestis achieves the First Flight clearance for the tail cone of the A350 XWB

Alestis Aerospace and Teams testing laboratory, located in Aeropolis (aerospace technology park of Andalusia) in Spain, have announced today that they have achieved the FFC First Flight Clearance for the Tail Cone (section 19.1). This milestone is only one step of the Full Scale of the tail cone that is under development in Teams´ facilities, close to Spanish Tier 1 Alestis headquartes.

 

Airbus continues with the roadmap set to control the majority of the shares of Alestis and the final agreement could be signed before this summer.

Two were the conditions that Airbus put to become the main shareholder of the company with a 21.5 million € of investment and to take full control of the company and, at the same time, ensure the viability. The first one, the application of an adjustment plan is already approved and 312 jobs will be removed. The second one, more complex, is being discussed; a bigger flexibility to return the loan of 90 million from the Spanish Government and European funds.

Click on the image to watch a VIDEO.

Alestis is full responsible for the development and manufacturing of the tail cone (section 19.1) and the belly fairing. Airbus rescued the company after the management of the main shareholder Alcor Group had seriously compromised the development of the A350 program.

Based on the article “Alestis logra la autorización del primer vuelo para el cono de cola del A350 XWB” and on the article” Cada vez más cerca su total desembarco en Alestis” published in La Voz Digital.

A350 XWB First Flight just the week before Le Bourget - Paris Air Show in June

Boeing will put its 787 Dreamliner on flying display at the Paris Air Show, as the aircraft maker seeks to leave behind a prolonged grounding, while the A350 XWB may debut even before the June expo.

Qatar Airways, launch customer of the A350 XWB will fly the 787 over the Paris Air Show

Qatar Airways and Boeing are expected to participate now that U.S. regulators have cleared the airplane to fly again, said Gilles Fournier, managing director for the Paris show.

“We expect a flying display of the Boeing aircraft every day” with confirmation still pending, he said at a London briefing. The Airbus A350 XWB, the direct rival to the 787, is not planned to showcase at the event, with Fournier predicting the first flight before the show, which kicks off on June 17.

The Paris event rotates with the Farnborough International Air Show near London as the industry’s largest annual gathering of commercial and defense companies. It typically triggers a spate of aircraft orders and comes as Boeing and Airbus have already secured deals this year for about 1,000 jets.

“The show is fully booked since the end of January for the first time,” Fournier said. “This success follows the success of the industry.”

Fournier would not predict the level of sales announcements to be expected at the event’s 50th gathering at the Le Bourget airport north of Paris.

While some companies have cut back on the size of their displays to reduce costs, Fournier said smaller enterprises have filled space to bring the total number of exhibitors to a record 2,200.

Based on the article “Boeing 787 to Fly at Paris Air Show as Airbus A350 Debut in Flux” published in Bloomberg

Lightning Strike Test in MSN3 passed as it is required for the First Flight Clearance

Lightning strike testing has been performed for the A350 XWB in the MSN3, completing a key required step in preparations for the maiden flight.

These so-called “electromagnetic hazard” evaluations – which took place mid-April at Airbus’ Clément Ader facility in Colomiers, France – involved the second A350 XWB flight test aircraft, MSN3, to demonstrate necessary protection levels in case of lightning strikes while aloft.

The A350 XWB’s aerostructure is made primarily of composite materials (carbon fibre reinforced plastic), providing more electrical resistance than an aerostructure consisting mostly of metallics.

To ensure the A350 XWB aerostructure safely manages lightning strikes, Airbus developed a solution where metallic foils are embedded in the aircraft’s composite panels – increasing the aerostructure’s electrical conductivity and protecting harnesses with metallic conduits.

It is important to confirm that such foils provide adequate protection for systems and equipment.

The A350 XWB “electromagnetic hazard” testing on MSN3 lasted around three days, consisting of lightning strike simulations and follow-up measurements of induced voltage/current levels on selected harnesses. These evaluations use a low-level current injection rather than the actual electrical current level generated by a lightning strike, with the measured voltages and current then extrapolated to the real threat of 200,000 amperes.

This testing will be continued by similar but longer tests on the MSN4 aircraft in 2014, fulfilling a requirement for type certification of Airbus’ A350-900 version.

Based on the press release “Confirming A350 XWB safety with lightning strike evaluations”