Goodrich prepares it´s site in Toulouse for the A350 ramp-up. An innovative robotic thrust reverser production area and a moving nacelle assembly line.

UTC Aerospace Systems' Aerostructures business formally inaugurated a new building dedicated exclusively to production of thrust reversers and the integration of nacelle systems for the Airbus A350 XWB at its Toulouse site.

The opening of the building, operated by Goodrich Aerospace Europe S.A.S., features an innovative robotic thrust reverser assembly line. The facility was dedicated during an event attended by company leaders, Airbus executives, program teams and local employees.

The new building is adjacent to the existing production facility, which is a final assembly and integration site for the nacelle systems on several Airbus programs, including the A320.

The nacelle systems for the A350 XWB, the largest nacelle ever built by the Aerostructures business, will contribute to the expected lower fuel consumption offered by the new twinjet. The new building includes a 50.000-square-foot thrust reverser robotic production area with a moving assembly line, a paint shop with an infrared curing tunnel and office space for support functions.

"We have delivered more than 15.000 nacelles to Airbus in the past 40 years and we're extremely proud to celebrate another milestone today with the inauguration of this new A350 XWB building," said UTC Aerospace Systems – Aerostructures President Marc Duvall.

UTC Aerospace Systems provides more than 20 proprietary systems for the new Airbus A350 XWB including electric power generation and secondary distribution, wheels and carbon brakes, pilot side stick controllers, SmartProbe® air data system and various engine components.

Based on the press release “UTC Aerospace Systems inaugurates new building dedicated to the thrust reverser assembly for the Airbus A350 XWB nacelle systems in Toulouse, France”

Still 32 orders for the “develop-cancelled” A350-800 model.

AWAS announced the decision made in September to convert its positions for 2 A350-800s to 2 of the larger A350-900 model. AWAS was an initial launch customer for the program, and one of the first lessors to place an order for this game changing aircraft and will receive both aircraft from this firm order in 2017.

Ray Sisson, President & CEO AWAS commented, “AWAS is very pleased to be able to offer our global airline customers the breakthrough performance and efficiency of the A350 XWB. Our conversion to larger A350-900 model reflects our overall confidence and the strong development of the program to date.”

“AWAS’ decision to upsize to the A350-900 underlines the trend we are seeing across all market segments favouring larger aircraft models in all size categories,” said John Leahy, Airbus COO, Customers.

Although the development of the A350-800 is cancelled (see here), the A350-800 still has 32 order from 4 Customers: Yemenia – Yemen Airways with 10 orders, Aeroflot & Asiana Airlines with 8 orders each and Hawaiian Airlines with 6 aircraft ordered.

Based on the press release “AWAS reaffirms commitment to A350 XWB programme, converting positions to A350-900 widebodies”

A350 first Qatar aircraft will airborne in comming days.

With the first engine run shown in the picture taken in Toulouse yesterday, the MSN6 aircraft is going to airborne in comming days in it's Route to Entry Into Service before end of Year.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aircrafts/15316337289/

Airbus is aware that it is working for a "demanding" customer, its chief executive said on Friday.

Airbus is now working to get the cabin furnishing ready for Qatar, a key task taking into consideration that Qatar recently rejected some aircraft from Airbus due to what it described as concerns over the quality of cabin fittings.

"We know it will be difficult to have it accepted because they are very demanding on quality, but it's a good start. We believe at least one aircraft will be delivered this year, but the customer has the final say" Fabrice Bregier added.

Based on the article "Qatar Airways being "difficult" on A350 launch, says Airbus boss" published by Arabian Business.

Lufthansa Technik offers technical support for A350 customers.

Lufthansa Technik is offering comprehensive technical support for the Airbus A350.
The spectrum of services covers the entire life cycle of the A350 and includes production inspections, material supply, maintenance and maintenance management as well as engineering services, entry-into-service support and LRU and engine maintenance. 

A particular focus of services for the A350 is aircraft IT management, since the aircraft and its maintenance systems are much more cross-linked than those of previous aircraft generations.


"Lufthansa Technik is already excellently prepared to maintain the A350, its carbon fiber structures and state-of-the-art engines and systems," says Wolfgang Weynell,  Vice President Corporate Sales and Marketing at Lufthansa Technik. 

"Our customers also benefit from the operational experience we have gathered in recent years maintaining the A380, which is quite similar to the technological demands of an A350 aircraft.

The required performance of engineering and maintenance services are already standard practice at Lufthansa  Technik and will be available to A350 operators from the first day of commercial operation. 

The infrastructure needed to maintain the A350 is already in place, and all of our preparations are on schedule."


Lufthansa Technik focuses their proposal on the experience from the A380, the expertise in composite repairs -with the Airframe Related Component Services (ARC®)- and their background as the "competent integrator to facilitate a worry-free operation from the first day of operations".

Lufthansa Technik is investing in the extensive involvement in the development program for the A350. Since 2008 Lufthansa Technik engineers have worked on behalf of Lufthansa, which will take delivery of its first A350s in 2016, with teams of airline experts known as Customer Focus Groups.

These teams have provided support for Airbus with numerous aspects of aircraft design, from flight operations and maintenance all the way to cockpit layout.

Last 25/July/2014 the A350 MSN5 flight test prototype visited Frankfurt airport where towing, ground power, refueling, air-conditioning units and engine start assistance were all tested for the first time. Lufthansa Technik staff from Frankfurt and Munich were on hand in Frankfurt.



Based on the press release "Comprehensive technical support for the Airbus A350"

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.