Spirit AeroSystems maintains the A350 delivery rate

Spirit AeroSystems reported Q4/2014 and full-year 2014 financial results driven by strong mature program operating performance. Spirit's Q4/2014 revenues were $1.6 billion, up from $1.5 billion for the same period of 2013.

Source: Felix Gottwald

"This was a record year for sales and deliveries; 2014 was a year of transition for Spirit. We addressed performance challenges in both development and production, we improved productivity and quality, and we mitigated risk as exemplified by the sale of the Gulfstream wing programs," said President and CEO Larry Lawson. 

"Our objectives for 2015 are well defined. We will continue to focus on increasing productivity, making thoughtful investments in preparation for rate increases, continuing progress on A350, increasing our emphasis on long-term growth, and addressing how we deploy capital," Lawson concluded.

Lawson detailed that progress on A350 fuselage section in Q4 equaled 18% cost reduction over Q3. And deliveries were the same than in Q2.

"We've made good progress. We've got a solid foundation for our company moving forward. We believe we are on the right programs. We are going deeper into our operations," Lawson said.

In 2014 Spirit delivered the double number of A350 shipsets than in 2013.

Source: Felix Gottwald

A350 Deliveries from Spirit AeroSystems.

2012       Q1:#1.   Q2:#0.    Q3:#1.     Q4:#1.     Subtotal: #3
2013       Q1:#2.   Q2:#1.    Q3:#1.     Q4:#4.     Subtotal: #8
2014       Q1:#2.   Q2:#5.    Q3:#4.     Q4:#5.     Subtotal: #16

A350-1000 Rear Fuselage shell manufacturing started

Premium Aerotec has officially started the manufacturing of the rear-fuselage side shells for the A350-1000 version at the Augsburg site. In October/2014 Premium Aerotec site of Nordenham had already started the production of its workpackage on the A350-1000.

The ceremony was held last Friday 30/January with the attendance of more than 200 employees.

The head of the A350 program at Premium Aerotec Joachim Nägele and the COO Andreas Fehring, thanked the team: "It is great to work with a highly motivated team at the most modern aircraft in the world. The excellent work that provide our employees makes me confident for the further ramp-up."

Premium Aerotec manufactures at Augsburg site the side shells of the rear fuselage (section 16/18), the floor structure and the aft pressure bulkhead. In Nordenham site, the full front fuselage section 13/14 is manufactured. The front and the rear fuselage section of the A350-1000 are each over 3 metres longer than the 900.

The A350-1000 introduces important innovations: for the highly complex structure of door frames, Premium Aerotec has developed an own CFRP solution together with Airbus for the first time. It contributes to significant weight & cost savings. In addition, the production time has been challenged with modifications in the production process.

Based on the press release “Premium AEROTEC beginnt mit der Fertigung der A350-1000”

2nd A350 will be delivered to Qatar in February

Qatar Airways has confirmed that the 2nd A350 delivery is scheduled for February, 2 months later than the first aircraft. 

Source: A380_TLS_A350

This second aircraft MSN7 will be the unique one to be delivered in Q1/2015.

Source: Oliver Louis

This aircraft will join the MSN6 in the Doha-Frankfurt route.

Source: A380_TLS_A

Next 3 aircraft (MSN9, MSN10, MSN8) will be delivered in Q2/2015 to Qatar. 

Source: Oliver Louis

For Q3/2015 there are 5 aircraft planned (3 for Qatar and 2 for Vietnam Airlines) and finally for Q4/2015 there will be 7 deliveries (2 for Vietnam, 4 for Finnair and 1 for Qatar).

Source: A380_TLS_A

A350-900 Delivery Plan. Q1/2015: #1.    Q2/2015: #3.     Q3/2015: #5.     Q4/2015: #7

Source: Jujug Spotting

The new Head of A350 XWB Program comes from A330.

Following the nomination of Didier Evrard as Airbus Executive Vice-President, Programs, in December/2014, Airbus has communicated that effective as of 1/March/2015, Patrick Piedrafita, currently Head of the A330 Family Program will be the new Head of the A350 XWB Program.

Patrick Piedrafita (center). Source: LaDepeche

In this new role, Patrick Piedrafita will report directly to Didier Evrard – EVP Programs and Member of the Airbus Executive Committee since 16/December.

Eric Zanin, currently Head of Procurement Operations, will be the new  Head of the A330 Family Program.

Source: Oliver Louis

Following Patrick Piedrafita’s appointment as Head of A350 XWB Program, and with the necessary full focus required by this strategic priority, Charles Champion, in addition to his current role as EVP Engineering and Member of the Airbus Executive Committee, is assigned the role previously held by Patrick Piedrafita, of “Président Délégué & Directeur Général of Airbus Operations SAS”.

Source: Airbus

“I would like to thank Patrick Piedrafita for the pivotal role he has played in bringing together all of Airbus’ activities in France under one roof, creating the single, harmonised operation we have in place today,”  said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President & CEO.

Source: Airbus

“I am delighted to appoint Patrick as the new Head of the A350 XWB Program and to leverage his valuable experience and leadership skills in program management.

Source: Airbus

Patrick brings the ideal expertise from the successful A330 Program just as the A350 XWB enters its series production and ramp-up phase, both essential for the company’s long-term success.”

Based on the press release “Airbus appoints new Programme leaders, assigns new responsibilities”

Airbus announces 18 additional seats for A350-1000.

Airbus has announced on 22/January in a presentation to Deutsche Bank investors an upgrade to the A350 capacity.

Source: Airbus

The forthcoming upgrade was hinted to media at Airbus annual press conference 2 weeks ago by Didier Evrard, Airbus head of programs, but no details were given at the time.

Source: Felix Gottwald

The changes were now spelled out more in detail, including pictures of the changed sections of the cabin.

Source: Leeham News

The improvement program brings the Cabin-Flex lavatories to the A350 interior catalog, enabling smaller lavatory footprint and thereby increased seating densities.

Source: Felix Gottwald

Airbus has also reworked galleys around the 3rd and 4th door pairs, thereby freeing up galley area in other parts of the cabin.

Taken together, Airbus claims an 18 seat improvement for the A350-1000, making it a 387 seater in a 2 class configuration.

Based on the article “A350-1000 gets upgrade to 387 seats; we analyse the consequences” published in Leeham News.

ANA chooses the 787-10 to complete it´s Boing-widebody fleet in preference to A350.

ANA Holdings’ board has approved a firm order for 3 Boeing 787-10s within a global order for 15 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

The breakdown of the $2.2 billion order (at list prices) is; 3 Boeing 787-10s, 5 Boeing 737-800s, 4 Airbus A321s and 3 Airbus A321neos.

The additional jets will give the group flexibility to handle the expected slots increase at Tokyo, and for it to match capacity with demand on domestic routes, says ANA Holdings.

The 787-10s are scheduled to be delivered in fiscal 2019 through to fiscal 2020.

Source: Manuel Belleli

All Nippon Airways has 187 aircraft in service and further order for 20 777-9Xs, 4 787-8s and 42 787-9s.

Source: J.V.

Last March/2014, All Nippon Airways (ANA) selected Boeing's 777-9X (20 aircraft) over the Airbus A350-1000 to replace its 777-300ERs. 

This was regarded as a key contract for Boeing to win, following Japan Airlines' decision in 2013 to order Airbus A350s for its own 777 replacement needs.

 ANA said the 777Xs will replace its 19 777-300ERs used on international routes, and will be delivered in fiscal 2021-27.

Based on the article “ANA Holdings approves firm order for 15 jets” published in FlightGlobal.

A350 Airline1: mirror airline operations.

One of the most important and key enablers for A350 maturity has been the Airline1 concept.

Operational Scenarios successfully tested.

Focus on delivering the A350 XWB with the highest dispatch reliability, the concept is simple; to operate and test the aircraft as much as possible in an operational environment, use the maintenance and support systems that A350 customers would have, capture their findings as soon as possible, and fix small issues quickly. 

The Airline 1 concept is a means to accelerate the aircraft maturity at the end of development and it's objetive is to prepare rapid solving of in-service issues (called TTGF).

A350 XWB Maintenance-Demo  5 day workshop in October/2014 

Two different approaches have been considered in paralell; Aircraft maturity (with Product Maturity Items, Operational Test Campaign, Technical Publications and Ground Support Equipments related tasks) and Aircraft operability (with Dispatch Operations, Built in Test, Maintenance Efficiency and Component removal tasks considered).


All pictures Source: Airbus