Why not the traditional water cannon salute in the first A350 commercial flight in Frankfurt?

The water cannon salute is a tradition –really it´s an adaptation of a naval tradition where ships are saluted by fire boats on special occasions- used as a tribute to first flights, last flights, flight crew retirements or for other notable events.

The A350 has been treated to a water cannon salute when it arrived to different airports all around the world during the Route Proving Campaign.

Source: Airservices

Only some days before the first commercial flight held last 15/January between Doha and Frankfurt, Qatar Airways' new Airbus A350 XWB was given a water cannon salute as it landed at Heathrow airport for the first time last Saturday.

Source: Felix Gottwald

But surprisingly Qatar Airways requested not to have a water cannon salute on 15/January.

This was not the first time the A350 was in Frankfurt and the airline decided not to have fire trucks spraying water cannon salute to the A350 XWB registered A7-ALA (MSN 006).

Source: Felix Gottwald

The aircraft was quite early, but slowed down well before getting close to Frankfurt on its way from Doha. Contrary to most airlines, the pilots opted for runway 25R in Frankfurt, which surely disappointed aviation enthusiasts and spooters that were waiting at the southern runway.

Source: Felix Gottwald

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker announced that Frankfurt will receive 2 daily flights on the A350 from 1/March in order to offer the best product consistently on this important route.

Source: Felix Gottwald

He clearly wanted the A350 to be a statement against local legacy carriers… Lufthansa will receive its first aircraft in a couple of years only.

Based on the article “First scheduled Airbus A350 flight world-wide arrives in Frankfurt! “ published in felixgottwald.net

A350 XWB program not profitable for next 4 years.

Airbus expects its A350 program to be profitable from 2019 before becoming a prime source of profits, said Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier a day after its first delivery of the aircraft to Qatar Airways.

 Source: Airbus

"We think it will become profitable towards the end of the decade, so towards 2019," Bregier said on RTL radio. "From then, it will be one of the biggest contributors to Airbus' profitability."

Source: Airbus

The A350 was developed at a cost of 11 billion euros ($13.45 billion) and is designed to compete with the twin-engined Boeing 787 and 777 models.

“Airbus CEO says A350 program to be profitable by 2019” published in Reuters.

Milestone: A350 first commercial flight. Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways has commenced the first commercial operation with the A350 XWB departing from Doha to Frankfurt. 

The A350 MSN6 (A7-ALA) is operating as flight QR67 and left the Qatari capital at around 08:00, arriving Frankfurt at 12:30. 

Airbus CEO Mr. Bregier was on board this first A350 commercial flight.

Its departure for the return service – flight QR68 – has been done on time (15:25h) arriving at Doha as planned.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony in Toulouse, Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker revealed that the Oneworld carrier expects to take delivery of 8 more  aircraft during 2015 and will gradually deploy the twinjet across the network, to other European destinations as well as to points in "the Far East, the Indian subcontinent and ultra-long-haul flights to the eastern seaboard of the USA".

All pictures Source Hetfield&Hammett

Based on the article "Qatar A350 inaugural arrives in Frankfurt" published in FlightGlobal.

A350 first delivery was delayed “to do touchups”.

Interesting opinion article by Karen Walker concerning the cause of the “awkward and last-minute handover delay in December with no reason given” of the 1^st delivery of the A350.

Source: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker is a notoriously hard man to please. As head of the launch customer airline for the Airbus A350 XWB, he has challenged the manufacturer and its engine supplier, Rolls-Royce.

Source: Qatar Airways

During the official reception ceremony of the A350 in Doha, Akbar was in good spirits, praising Airbus and Rolls-Royce for walking “hand-in-hand” with their customer throughout the development program. The result, he noted, was an aircraft that is “a magnificent masterpiece” that represents “the pinnacle” of Qatar Airways’ achievements so far.

Source: Qatar Airways

Even so, the straight-talking CEO couldn’t resist an opening jab during the press conference in Doha, with the brand-new aircraft waiting outside for dozens of international media to get a first glimpse of its cabins.

Taking his seat on the stage, and with Airbus EVP head of programs Didier Evrard and Rolls-Royce president, large civil engines, Eric Schulz seated either side, Al Baker quipped: “Any of you who did not apply your eyeliner or lipstick correctly, you can learn from Airbus how to do touchups.”

Whatever “touchups” Al Baker was referring to was not explained. But he seems pleased with the cosmetic work – noting in particular that the A350’s sweeping, curved wing is “very beautiful”. Indeed, it is.

Based on the article “Qatar Airways CEO offers tips on eyeliner and lipstick” published in ATW.

After Frankfurt, Qatar A350 will operate Singapore and New York with the A350 XWB.

Qatar Airways said it will operate both the 1st and 2nd examples of the A350 to Frankfurt, with the 3rd serving Singapore.

Source: Airbus

Subsequent destinations will include New York, secondary European cities and the Indian subcontinent, with Rio de Janeiro and Saudi Arabia possibilities, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in Doha.

He has also flagged Japan, Russia, Perth in Australia and more U.S. cities as likely destinations.

The CEO said Qatar is happy with the current order for 80 A350s but may add more if there’s sufficient demand from customers of its leasing business.

He reiterated that he’s keen to expedite deliveries both to replace older A330 jets and meet growth needs, with positions freed up after Emirates discarded an order for 70 A350s last year.

On some European routes the A350 will take over from 787s that joined the Qatar Air fleet from late 2012, he said.

Based on the article “Qatar Air Reveals Rollout Plan for A350 Jet, With Singapore Next” published in Bloomberg.

Qatar will start A350 commercial operations during 2015 summer season.

The first Qatar Airways´ A350 has visited this weekend London Heathrow airport, with a special access visit and demonstration flight for some guests on Monday 12/Jan/2015.

Local council representatives, media, and other guests were all in attendance at Heathrow on Monday  as guests were treated to a first-hand demonstration of the Qatar A350 XWB through a 2-hour flight around the UK.

Developments and improvements on functionalities on the A350 XWB will allow it to operate up to 16 decibels below the regulatory standards for aircraft of its kind, as well as reducing its carbon emissions.

To test the A350’s noise mitigation features, Qatar Airways’ crew have worked with Heathrow to carry out a series of proving flights at the airport over the past weekend, the first of a series to be undertaken as part of a long-term partnership.

There is a national consultation concerning the expansion of the airport and these tests are used by Heathrow to ask for the support to that expansion;

“New, quieter aircraft such as the A350 will help to ensure fewer local residents are affected by noise from Heathrow. Given the popular and competitive nature of Heathrow’s routes, airlines tend to use their newest and quietest aircraft at the airport. In fact, Heathrow’s fleet mix is made up of over 18% more Chapter 4 aircraft, the quietest and newest aircraft, than the global fleet average.”

Matt Gorman, Heathrow’s Sustainability Director said, “Heathrow is proud to count on airline partners like Qatar to use the quietest and most modern aircraft on our routes. We are committed to phasing-out the noisiest and oldest aircraft in the short-term, and ensuring that new aircraft like A350 are taken up by all our airline partners in the long-term, to benefit local residents.”

The A350 XWB exceeds Airbus´ targets on noise emissions far below the ICAO requirement in order to deliver quieter take-offs and landings at airports like Heathrow. Rolls-Royce has focused the Trent XWB development on ensuring “the best possible environmental performance to support Airbus A350 XWB operations.”

 All pictures Source Heathrow Airport

Based on the press release “Heathrow Airport welcomes Qatar A350 in style”

Rolls-Royce improves XWB-84 engine for A350-900.

Rolls-Royce is set to flight-test an improved fan for the XWB-84 engine which will run in early 2015.

The revised design “is over 100 lb. lighter than the current version” said XWB program director Simon Burr.

Source: Rolls-Royce

“There is a weight advantage but it also helps with the industrial process. That was part of the learning from the early stages and it also helps in terms of the production system.”

The new fan will be cut into the production line in the 3Q/2015, following the completion of flight tests that will check for relevant changes related to the power management algorithms in the electronic engine control system.

Source: Rolls-Royce

Based on the article “Rolls-Royce Begins Building First A350-1000 Flying Testbed Engine” published in Aviation Week.