Merry A350 X WB MAS

Greeting Card issued by Airbus

Another A350 customer orders … 777-Xs.

  

Cathay Pacific has placed an order for 21 Boeing 777-9X aircraft, with deliveries to take place between 2021 and 2024. The aircraft are worth $7.5 billion at list prices, said the Oneworld carrier in a statement.

“Cathay Pacific is committed to modernizing its fleet to provide a superior experience to passengers while at the same time delivering cost benefits to the airline and reducing our impact on the environment,” said Cathay chief executive John Slosar.
“The 777-300ER has done a super job for us – indeed, Cathay Pacific is now the second largest operator of this type – and we are delighted to be an early customer for this next generation of the aircraft.”

He said the aircraft will be used mainly on routes to North America and Europe, particularly routes with high volumes of both passengers and cargo.
Cathay Pacific operates 38 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and has another 12 on order. The carrier also has orders for 26 Airbus A350-1000s, and 22 A350-900s.

Current 777X customers have A350 XWBs in their orderbook:

• Lufthansa: 25 orders for A350-900
• Ethiad Airways: 40 orders for A350-900 and 22 orders for A350-1000
• Qatar Airways: 43 orders for A350-900 and 37 orders for A350-1000
• Emirates: 50 orders for A350-900 and 20 orders for A350-1000
• Cathay Pacific: 22 orders for A350-900 and 26 orders for A350-1000

Based on the article “Cathay orders 21 777-9Xs” published in FlightGlobal

Not all A350 XWB will be configured in what Airbus considers the passenger comfort standard of 18-in seat width. It can be called “high-density configuration” or also “eco-efficient leisure cabin”.

For the past few months, Airbus has been campaigning for an 18-in seat width standard on long-haul aircraft, even though the European airframer continues to advertise the option for airlines to order a high-density 10-abreast A350.

Some industry observers believe that, in flogging an 18-in “comfort” standard while actively pitching super snug, high-density configurations, Airbus is talking out of both sides of its mouth.

Airbus VP cabin innovation & design Ingo Wuggetzer disagrees, saying the airframer is being forward thinking, and considering the next generation of traveler. “In general, we see people are growing more in width than height, so there should be a demand and I think we also have a good position because we have the best cross section in the market. So we should make use of it. [So we’re] offering seat width that is superior, and is made for that next generation of traveller,” he says.

Wuggetzer notes that Airbus didn’t draw conclusions about an 18-in comfort standard on its own. “We also asked our questions during a customer workshop in June on a survey we performed based on several seating configurations.”

He also revealed that all Airbus A350 customers “except one low-cost carrier” had adhered to an 18-in seat width in economy. Flightglobal in May/2012 reported that AirAsia X had ordered its A350s in 2-class configuration, with 10-abreast in economy. Air Caraibes has ordered 3+3 A350-900 and A350-1000 with 387 and 439 seats in “eco-efficient leisure cabin”.

But one can’t help but wonder if other airlines will follow suit, as the market has wholly embraced the 10-abreast 777-300ER and its 777X successor (even in the face of passenger consternation about 10-abreast).



Based on the article “Nearly all A350 buyers opt for 18-in seat width” published in Run Way Girl Network.

A350 first prototype MSN1 tests on Châteauroux-Déols. Video

The first A350 prototype MSN1 has been on the Châteauroux-Déols Airport last week performing different tests.

Click the picture to watch video1

The MSN1 has many Flight Test Instrumentation focused on the Natural Ice campaign installed as it can be seen in the pictures and in the video.

Click the picture to watch video2
Braking tests and several landings & take-offs were performed testing engines and different landing configurations.

Based on the article “L'Airbus A350 sur l'aéroport de Châteauroux” published in La nouvelle Republique.

Engineer of the year is... Didier Evrard, Head of A350 program in Airbus

Didier Evrard is Mr A350. And he received the award of “the engineer of the year” in December during the annual ceremony organized by Usine Nouvelle magazine.

He has managed an industrial development for last 7 years with more than 10,000 engineers and with a cost exceeding EUR 10 billion. This former student of the École Centrale de Lyon and Sup'Aero has celebrated in July his 60 years "with pride" one month later than the First Flight of the A350.

"Didier Evrard has big pressure on the shoulders, but works quietly, discreetly," reflects Françoise Vallin, CFE - CGC Airbus trade union delegate.

"At first, people were stunned that we did not choosen an airbusien”, said Louis Gallois former EADS CEO. "He had never worked on an aircraft during his career and we appointed him as the Head of the most difficult program never done”.

"Great skills, respect for the process, attention to detail and overall vision", described Bregier. To carry out the A350 XWB program, he has developed a battery of activities: technology demonstrators, shared and harmonized tools & schedule of Airbus and its subcontractors, proximity with airlines, better controlled communication...



Based on the article “L'ingénieur de l'année est... Didier Evrard, directeur du programme A350 “ published in Usine Nouvelle

FAA may impose “special conditions” for A350 Type Certification concerned about safety & maintenance protection: has the design of the A350-900 allow for too much connectivity between the aircraft control domain and other electronic systems onboard?

The Federal Aviation Administration is concerned that the design of the Airbus A350-900 airplane might allow for too much connectivity between the aircraft control domain and other electronic systems onboard the aircraft, which could result in the “intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation or exploitation of data, systems, and networks critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane.”

Consequently, the FAA has announced that it may impose “special conditions” on that specific Airbus plane before issuing a “type certificate” that would allow the plane to fly commercially.
Those special conditions would require Airbus to “ensure airplane electronic system security protection from access to or by unauthorized sources external to the airplane,” that any threats are identified and assessed, that “electronic system security protection strategies are implemented,” and that procedures are put in place to ensure that continued airworthiness of the aircraft is maintained.

“These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with electronic system security protection from unauthorized external access,” explains the FAA’s notice. “The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature.”

“Contemporary transport category airplanes have both safety-related and non-safety-related electronic system networks for many operational functions,” the FAA notice continues. “However, electronic system network security considerations and functions have played a relatively minor role in the certification of such systems because of the isolation, protection mechanisms, and limited connectivity between the different networks.”


Based on the article “FAA concerned about interconnectivity of electronic systems on Airbus A350-900 airplanes “ published in Government security news.

Airbus relies on the background of Saab to develop and manufacture the flap support structure for the A350-1000. SABCA from Belgium will continue manufacturing the same work-package for A350-900 model.

Saab has signed a contract with Airbus to become a supplier for the A350-1000. The agreement covers design, development and manufacturing of the flap support structures. Saab will be the single-source supplier for these components in the A350-1000.
This is Saab’s first system win on the new Airbus aircraft and gives Saab a key role on this fast-growing aviation program.

“This marks a break-through on yet another Airbus platform confirming our expertise and competitiveness as a global actor on the commercial aviation market. With this contract we further cement Saab as an important and long-term partner to Airbus and we look forward to working with Airbus on the game-changing A350-1000 program," says Lars Jensen, head of Saab’s business unit Aerostructures.

Pictures available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/aircrafts/

Flap support structures link the landing flaps to the wing trailing-edge structure and allow the deployment of the flaps during the take-off and landing phases.

Saab is responsible for the design, development, stress analysis and manufacture of the flap support structures as well as the development and procurement of production tools. The work package comprises both metallic and composites content with a high degree of complex assembly included. The development and production will take place at the Saab Aerostructures facility in Linköping, Sweden.

Based on the press release “SAAB SIGNS CONTRACT WITH AIRBUS FOR A350-1000 FLAP SUPPORT“