A350 production ramp up challenge: 12 aircraft in the final assembly line.

With European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification now in place for the A350-900, Airbus is shifting gears to steep production ramp-up.

MSN9 Source flickr

The next challenge, ramp up of production, is nearing. Airbus plans by year-end to reach a build rate of 3/month from the current 2, and by the end of 2015, it aims to produce 5 A350s per month. Output is to be expanded to 10 aircraft per month by 2018. 

MSN8 Source flickr

MSN9 Source flickr

MSN10 Source flickr

Based on the article "The Way Forward" published in Aviation Week.

FAA certification for A350 before end-October

The Federal Aviation Administration expects to issue safety approval for the A350 by the end of this month, a spokesman from Airbus said on Tuesday.

"The FAA anticipates being able to issue the A350 type certificate during the latter part of October," the spokesman said by email in response to a Reuters query.

Source: Clement Alloing

Airbus won European safety approval on 30/September for the A350, clearing the main regulatory hurdle before its most technically advanced jet can fly passengers, but approval from the U.S. regulator is seen as another critical milestone.

Based on the article “FAA to grant safety approval to Airbus A350 jet by end-Oct” published in Reuters

Vietnam Airlines first A350-900s in the FAL

The first A350 for Vietnam Airlines -MSN014- is scheduled for delivery in mid-2015.

Source: Airbus

The airline has 10 A350-900s order an additional 4 from lessors CIT Aerospace and AerCap. The first aircraft that Vietnam Airlines will start operating next year will be these 4, that currently are being assembled in different status at the FAL in Toulouse.

 Source: Airbus

Airbus said that Vietnam Airlines -which will be the 1^st Asian carrier to operate the type- will use the A350-900s on long-haul services.

Source: Airbus

Based on the article “Vietnam Airlines' first A350 aircraft enters final assembly” published in Flightglobal.

A350 Certified with Ni-Cad batteries. Return to the lithium-ion technology agreed.

The global 787 fleet was grounded from January to April last year after 2 lithium-ion batteries burned out in separate incidents in Japan and the United States.

Source: Airbus.

Airbus had intended to use lithium-ion batteries for the A350 –due to weigh less than traditional power packs-, but switched back to traditional nickel-cadmium in the face of the 787 problems to prevent its own schedule slipping.

Evrard said Airbus had agreed with EASA how to return to the lithium-ion technology and that this would happen in 2016, probably targeted for MSN21 of Qatar Airways.

"We have flown the lithium battery for all development aircraft except the MSN5 and we have accumulated experience in flight," he told reporters, adding he was "absolutely" certain they would be safe. “From the very beginning we were fully aware of the conditions of use, and how we could mitigate any risks to zero.”

Source: Airbus

Japan's transport authority said last week it was unable to find the root cause of the overheating of a battery on a 787 owned by ANA Holdings in January/2103. Boeing said its reinforced battery system ensures the safety of the 787 Dreamliner.

Based on the article “Airbus wins European approval for its new A350 jet” published in Reuters.

A350 first aircraft for Qatar Airways roll-out and 2 months for Entry Into Service.

The first A350 XWB for Qatar Airways is progressing towards delivery before year end, probably on the first days of December. The exact delivery date will be determined jointly with the carrier in the coming weeks. 

Source: Airbus.

The aircraft equipped with Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines rolled out of the Airbus factory in Toulouse fully painted, prominently bearing Qatar Airways’ livery.

Source: flickr

Following the recent EASA Type Certification, the Qatar Airways A350-900 is now entering into its final stage of production during which Airbus and the airline teams are actively working together in order to ensure a seamless hand-over process. The remaining steps up to delivery comprise notably the cabin completion as well as ground and flight tests.

Source: Airbus.

The MSN006 is now “ready to be transferred to the flight-test team,” Evrard said. Airbus is working on familiarizing Qatar Airways with the aircraft. Evard said that will require “a number of flights,” but it is difficult to predict just how many flights or hours. But he said, “If I were a golf player, I would say we are on the green.” 

Based on the article "The Way Forward" published in Aviation Week.

Delta evaluating A350-900 for replacing old Boeing 747s and 767s. Low prices and availability will be key.

Delta Air Lines has narrowed down its options for a planned widebody order to either the Airbus A350-900 or the Boeing 787-9, said chief executive Richard Anderson.

Source: Florent Peraudeau

“We’re in the process of either choosing a 787-9 or an A350-900. The important thing about that is that fleet is going to unlock the longer haul markets.”

Delta began evaluating options for an up to 50 widebody aircraft order to replace the 16 Boeing 747-400s and majority of the 58 Boeing 767-300ERs in its fleet in April. 

Source: Clement Alloing

Only aircraft currently offered by Airbus and Boeing were being considered; the Airbus A330-200/300, A350-900/1000 and Boeing 777-300ER and 787-8/9/10.

Source: Rami-kahanna-Prade

Delta is expected to make a decision in the fourth quarter and announce an order before the end of the year.

Based on the article “Delta focused on A350-900 and 787-9 for widebody order” published in FlightGlobal.

Carbon fiber supplier Hexcel invests for the A350 XWB ram-up.

Hexcel is investing $250 million on a new carbon fiber plant in France, with part of the production going into the A350 XWB.

The new site in Roussillon will include new precursor and carbon fiber lines along with quality control laboratories and offices.

The 37-acre site at the Osiris Chemicals Industry Platform is close to the existing Hexcel weaving and prepreg manufacturing facilities near Lyon, France.

The plant will be Hexcel’s first precursor plant in Europe and its first carbon fiber capacity site in France, the company said.

Source: Airbus

“The state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that we will build demonstrate our commitment to technology expansion around the world to provide an efficient global supply chain in support of customer programs,” Hexcel CEO and President Nick Stanage said.

Construction will begin in mid-2015. It is expected to employ 120 people when fully operational in early 2018.

Based on the article “New Hexcel plant will supply carbon fiber for Airbus A350 XWB” published in Plastic News