More extreme weather tests for A350. This time, indoor

In order to go beyond certification requirements and testing to the extremes the MSN2 has arrived at McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin Air Force base in northwest Florida. Over the next couple of weeks the aircraft and its various systems and cabin installations will be subjected to the extreme hot and cold temperatures that the unique facility can sustain in a testing environment.

ow.ly/wx7kw© Airbus

These tests come on top of those already performed earlier this year in the Middle East and Northern Canada to ensure maturity and full in-service readiness from Day 1 for all A350 XWB’s operators.

ow.ly/i/5tpIH© Airbus

Based on the press release “A350 XWB at McKinley Climatic Lab in Florida for more extreme weather tests”

A350 Pilot training based on commonality.

As shown in this video, A350 flight training is in progress with the main target of undertanding the aircraft more than knowing the aircraft in order to achieve a competence.  Airbus based on a commonality philosophy in order to lower training costs for airlines and considerably increased crew productivity.

Click on the picture to watch the video.

 15 of Airbus’ aircraft models -from the A318 to the A350 XWB and A380- share common handling characteristics through their use of fly-by-wire flight controls, and are equipped with cockpits that have similarities in functionality and layout. This commonality enables the qualification of pilots on multiple aircraft types within an aircraft family, while bringing significant savings through training and streamlined procedures.

http://legacy.icao.int/NGAP/Presentations/A350%20XWB%20training%20for%20the%20future.pdf

Additionally, the Cross-Crew Qualification concept positions fly-by-wire qualified pilots for an easy transition between Airbus’ larger jetliners – the A350 XWB, A380 and A330/A340 – with its single-aisle A320 Family through straightforward and rapid differential training. Another Airbus commonality advantage is called “Mixed Fleet Flying”, which is a pilot's ability to be current on more than one Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft family type at a time.

http://legacy.icao.int/NGAP/Presentations/A350%20XWB%20training%20for%20the%20future.pdf

During the A350 XWB Flight Crew training, it is being considered the objective to take benefit of A380 experience as well as to take benefit of Customers feedback, for example, considering  distance-learning and training days on-site & off-site. There have been developed training solutions for Training Centers and Airlines trying to enhance synergies between Flight Ops documentations and Training Media.

A350 lands at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. First visit to US

In it´s way to Florida for extreme climate tests, the MSN2 prototype landed at DFW airport and stayed for one day at American Airlines maintenance hangar.

pic.twitter.com/dV2lUJV6AY

Airbus flew in the A350 from Toulouse late Sunday evening and put it on display for the media and employees at American. The Fort Worth-based carrier has 22 A350-900 on order with the first delivery expected in 2017.

pic.twitter.com/SFd57hh0hl

The aircraft is on its way to Florida to a climate temperature testing facility. And before landing at Dallas airport –with strong winds as can be appreciated in the video- it flew over Kinston, NC where many employees & families of Spirit AeroSystems Composite Center of Excellence –where part of fuselage and wing spars are made- enjoyed the low fly-by.

pic.twitter.com/4cIJFA2lYQ

"This cabin is a good bit wider than the A330 we fly today," said Captain John Dudley, an Airbus pilot for American. "We've worked very closely [with Airbus] to try to determine how we can design something that is even more efficient than today's aircraft and more reliable than today's aircraft."

pic.twitter.com/KKRevyZmSZ

With a range of 8,500 nautical miles, the A350 can be used on commercial flights that last about 14 hours, Dudley said.

Based on the article “Airbus brings the A350 to DFW for a visit” published in Star Telegram.

Modular interior cabin increases flexibility to A350 operators. Video

A mockup of the A350 cabin was presented at the Aircraft Interiors Show last month in Hamburg. 

Click on the picture to watch the video -in French-

Roland Naudy, Airbus Cabin Marketing Manager presents, explains and demonstrates, components in hand, the flexibility of cabin interiors for the airlines. 

Click on the picture to watch the video -in French-

The modular cabin of the A350 is the result of involving airlines from the first day of the development in the concurrence approach called Airline Office. 

Click on the picture to watch the video -in French-

Based on the article "L'aménagement cabine de l'A350 modulable" published in Le Journal de l'Aviation

A350 Flight Test Program reaches 70% hours out of 2500h planned.

AirInsight has published their April flight test update for the 3 programs among the Western OEMs. C-Series of Bombardier, 787-9 of Boeing and A350 of Airbus.

The hours shown are best estimates and come from third parties who attempting to track the programs.

http://www.airbus-group.com/dms/airbusgroup/int/en/investor-relations/documents/2014/presentations/JP-Morgan-A350-Programme-Update/JP%20Morgan%20A350%20Programme%20Update.pdf

The A350 program’s added aircraft is helping to build hours rapidly.  

http://www.airbus-group.com/dms/airbusgroup/int/en/investor-relations/documents/2014/presentations/JP-Morgan-A350-Programme-Update

AirInsight maintains an earlier than planned EIS.  "The flight test program appears to be executed flawlessly".

http://www.airbus-group.com/dms/airbusgroup/int/en/investor-relations/documents/2014/presentations/JP-Morgan-A350-Programme-Update

Based on the article "Flight Test Update" published in AirInsight.

Where is the A350 ramp-up in Spirit AeroSystems deliveries of the 1Q/2014?

Spirit AeroSystems quarterly profit nearly doubled, partly helped by strong demand for large commercial aircraft. 

Net income rose to $153.6 million in the first quarter ended April 3, from $81.2 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 20% to $1.73 billion.

http://www.spiritaero.com/Media.aspx

But watching quarterly deliveries of A350 workpackages, in the first 3 months of 2014 Spirit Aero only has delivered shipsets equivalent to 2 aircraft. In 2013 there were shipped 8 aircraft, 4 of them in 4Q/2013. With these figures, the unique ramp-up that it is clearly shown is in the B787 Program where 31 aircraft have been delivered in 1Q/2014 comparing 19 aircraft in the last quarter of 2013.

Spirit AeroSystems American Risk Sharing Partner is in charge of the section 10 centre fuselage and the front spar and fixed leading edge of the wing , manufactured in the new factory in Kinston North Carolina.

Based on the article “Aircraft parts maker Spirit Aero's profit nearly doubles” published in Reuters.

A350 takes off sloooowly. Video

MSN3 prototype tested in Basel Airport the mínimum take-off speed as shown in this video. Really low speed!

Click on the picture to watch the video.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32376857@N02/13775743855/lightbox/