Spirit AeroSystems invests in automation to meet ramp-up on the A350, currently at rate-2.

Spirit CEO Larry Lawson said in a conference call with analysts that the company is benefiting from performance improvements and cost reductions, and a healthy demand for the aircraft components it makes.

He said the company will continue to focus on performance and cost reductions, while preparing for production increases on the Airbus A350XWB.

Those preparations will include more than $100 million in investments this year in “automation projects” that Lawson said will help Spirit meet its production and cost reduction goals in 2015, and rate increases in the next few years.

“Our goal is to execute a seamless ramp-up as we continue to reduce costs,” Lawson said.

Spirit is gearing up for monthly-rate increases on the A350,  the Boeing 737 (42 to 47 by 2017) and the 787 (10 to 12 by 2016).

Sanjay Kapoor, Spirit’s chief financial officer, said Spirit delivered six A350XWB shipsets(including the center section of the airplane’s fuselage as well as parts of its wings) in the first quarter 2015. That compares with two A350 shipsets it delivered in the first quarter of 2014.

Based on the article “Efforts to rein in costs lead to higher profits for Spirit” published in The Wichita Eagle

Airbus trying to buy A350-supplier PFW rescued 4 years ago

Airbus has begun contacting potential buyers of jetliner supplier PFW, which it rescued in 2011 basically to avoid impacts in A350 program deliveries.

Airbus has asked buyout groups and peers to bid for PFW Aerospace in a potential 300-500 million euro deal.

The German company, which supplies jetliner parts to both Airbus and Boeing, was always seen as a temporary part of Airbus, and the sale indicates concerns over this part of its supply chain have eased.

This movement is parallel to Airbus approaches to potential buyers for electronics and other assets it wants to sell to focus its defense division on warplanes, missiles, launchers and satellites. 

Airbus-group hopes to attract private equity buyers for defense electronics businesses such as radar, optronics and avionics supplies, as well as for part of its satellite communications unit.

Based on the article “Airbus moves ahead with defense electronics, other asset sales” published in Reuters.

3rd A350 delivered to Qatar Airways.

The MSN9 aircraft has been delivered to Qatar Airways today, flying from Toulouse to Doha.

Source: Jujug Spotting

This A350-900 had the register F-WZFDD when she airborne last 27/March and it is planned to join Singapore-Doha commercial route next week with the new register A7-ALC.

You can follow the delivery with this callsign fr24.com/QTR3350

More than 1000 3D-printed parts for A350 prototypes.

Israeli 3D printer provider Stratasys has announced that Airbus has produced more than 1000 parts on its Stratasys FDM 3D Production Systems.

The parts were installed in the A350 flight test prototypes, mainly for Flight Test Installation (FTI).

The 3D printed parts were used in place of traditionally manufactured parts to increase supply chain flexibility, enabling Airbus to meet its delivery commitment on-time.

Airbus initiated development and certification of 3D printing with Stratasys in 2013 as a schedule risk mitigation plan.

The parts are 3D printed using ULTEM™ 9085 resin for FDM, which is certified to an Airbus material specification.

ULTEM 9085 resin provides high strength-to-weight ratio and is FST (flame, smoke, and toxicity) compliant for aircraft interior applications.

Based on the article “Stratasys delivers 3D printed aircraft parts for Airbus” published in Globes.

10 ordered A350s by Air Asia X could be cancelled or converted to A330neo.

Will Air Asia X take delivery of the 10 Airbus A350-900 XWB that it ordered?

It is not-clear, according to the latest statements by the leader of Air Asia Group.

Speaking in Las Vegas on 28/April at the Summit organized by the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), Tony Fernandes, founder of Air Asia group, indicated that it could rule out the A350, and it seems heprefers today the A330 family.

"We have renounced the A350. That's it for the A330 and the A330neo", he said, according to remarks reported by the organizer of the event.

This is not the first time that Air Asia X is reserved on the A350: last October, its Executive Director, Azran Osman Rani, told the Reuters agency that the company might postpone the delivery of the first aircraft, planned for 2018-2019, citing the weakness of the economy in Europe, to where the A350 are intended to be deployed.

Since Air Asia X ordered in 2009 the A350, Airbus launched last year the A330neo. "We fought with Airbus for the A330neo, and we really believe in this aircraft", confirmed Tony Fernandes at the same Summit.

Air Asia X committed to 50 A330-900neo, to which it has added 5 additional copies at the firm order confirmed in December last year.

Based on the article “Air Asia X : un désintérêt grandissant pour l’Airbus A350 XWB” published in Air Info.

A350 to New York and Boston in March/2016

Qatar Airways has announced the next phase of its USA route development with the introduction of 3 new passenger routes to Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta.

With these new destinations, Qatar Airways will offer daily nonstop services to all 10 of the largest metropolitan areas of the United States.

From 16/March/2016, the airline will launch daily flights to Boston, the capital and largest city of Massachusetts, and will operate its latest flagship A350 XWB in a 2-class configuration.

Increasing passenger demand to America’s largest city and financial centre, New York, has prompted Qatar Airways to add a 2nd daily service to the city from 1/March/2016.

Qatar Airways has served the city daily since the initial route launch in 2007.

The second daily service to New York’s JFK will be operated by the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft providing passengers an opportunity to experience both the Boeing B777 and the A350 aircraft types on the route.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Al Baker said: "As Qatar Airways continues its global expansion, we look forward to offering a great travel experience to our US passengers on the World's Best Business Class across our network of more than 140 destinations, with a convenient one-stop transfer at the new state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

Based on the press release “Qatar Airways set to expand its USA network with the addition of three new routes”.

Who is Patrick Piedrafita and his challenges in the A350.

The Toulousain Patrick Piedrafita has become Head of A350 program. He received in late-2014 from Fabrice Brégier the prestigious French award of “Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur”.

«It is for me a very nice recognition of the work done at Airbus but I approach these new duties with discretion and modesty»

Patrick Piedrafita is also vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Toulouse, a 'citizen link with the city' that particularly loves.

"We have set the delivery of 15 aircraft this year with 3 head-of-version, i.e. aircraft intended for new clients that require a longer production cycle" explained Patrick Piedrafita.

His difficult task is to succeed with the A350 ramp up. This will be difficult especially in 2016 with the ultimate target to achieve 10 aircraft per month by end-2018, only 4 years after the entry into service.

“It is ambitious but the means are already in place on the assembly line. This ramp up is even more difficult to manage because we must also take into account the rate-9 of the A330” added Patrick Piedrafita.

While the internal teams are ready (current 1500 employees that will be 1800 in 2018) the supplychain is characterized as strong as that of the A330.

According to him, “my teams remain very vigilant to the risks" warns. Patrick Piedrafita is well aware that "the strength of a supply chain is measured by the strength of the weakest link.”

His other challenge will be the entry into production of the A350-1000 next year.

"The first components of the - 1000 have been manufactured and successfully passed the first industrial milestones. The first delivery will take place mid 2017" said Patrick Piedrafita.

Based on the article “Programme A350 : un Toulousain aux commandes” published in La Depeche