I have dedicated this thread to news and development of the upcoming Airbus A350, competitor to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Please ensure your posts are relevant to this thread.
Utah Company To Supply First Composite Parts For A350
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is set to make the first composite parts for the Airbus A350 at its Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence (ACCE) in Clearfield, Utah, which officially opened for business on Aug. 29.
The facility, which will also make composite parts for the General Electric GEnx-2B engine on the Boeing 747-8 and the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine on the A350, forms the centerpiece of ATK’s campaign to double its civil and international aerospace structures business in the coming years.
Speaking to Aviation Week at the opening ceremony, ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung says the expansion plan “is going to take time, and we’re going to be deliberate about that.” The goal is “to pursue that diversification, and we’ve proved we can do it already,” he adds, referring to the increased non-government business share in ATK’s armament systems ammunition unit. “Commercial aircraft structures and international sales is about 30% of the business, and we’d like to continue to grow that towards a more even balance between Defense Department/NASA and non-government.”
Finnair CEO rejects premium economy for Airbus A350
Finnair will be one of the world’s first airlines to fly the all-new Airbus A350 in 2014, but it’s not about to join the premium economy brigade – even on the longest-haul routes from the edge of Europe across to Asia.
“We are one of the first airlines to get the A350, we have 18 on order and they will be a two-class product with business and economy” says Finnair CEO Mr Mika Vehviläinen of Airbus’ competitor to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, both of which employ composite carbon fibre instead of conventional metals in the fuselage and wing structures.
“We are strong believers in a two-class product for simplicity” Vehviläinen told Australian Business Traveller. “We will have a very high level of business class in the A350, and also a very competitive economy class, but we have taken a view so far that we don’t see the advantages of premium economy.”
Source: http://www.ausbt.com.au/finnair-ceo-rejects-premium-economy-for-airbus-a350
By: talltower - 1st October 2011 at 12:19
Premium Aerotec Puts Together First Airbus A350 XWB Forward Fuselage
Article excerpt from Airlines and Destinations
Premium Aerotec Puts Together First Airbus A350 XWB Forward Fuselage
Airbus aerostructures partner Premium Aerotec has successfully put together the first forward fuselage for the A350 XWB at Nordenham in Germany.
The all-composite fuselage for the first Airbus A350 XWB is 13 meters (42 feet 7.8 inches) long and comprises four panels and the floor grid.
Structural assembly work will continue over the coming weeks before the forward-fuselage assembly is transported by boat to Airbus’ Hamburg site for systems installation.
Article excerpt from Airlines and Destinations
Airbus Receives First A350 XWB Nose Section for Mating to Forward Fuselage
The first Airbus A350 XWB nose section has been transported to Airbus in St Nazaire by the manufacturer’s Beluga transport aircraft from Airbus partner Aerolia’s site in Méaulte.
Airbus released the photograph to the media on the same day that the first Boeing 787 for Dreamliner launch customer All Nippon Airways took off on its delivery flight from Everett, Washington to Tokyo Haneda Airport.
The Airbus A350 XWB nose section comprises three main sub-assemblies: the cockpit plus upper and lower forward-fuselage parts, which incorporate door one and the nose landing gear bay.
By: MSR777 - 18th September 2011 at 11:42
It would be interesting to know why, but IMO the fleet breakdown speaks for itself, I assume that one of the reasons must be financial. Hopefully the news of KLMs intention to buy the A350, signals a change in KLMs fleet policy. At least here both Boeing and AI get a slice of the pie.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th September 2011 at 20:08
with KLM in particular, giving the impression of being a little ‘luke warm’ towards AI products
any reason why?
By: MSR777 - 17th September 2011 at 19:08
Air France board spurns French govenment . This is a huge blow to Airbus….
But no real surprise surely. Both AF and KLM have operated a mix of AI and Boeing machines for quite some time, with KLM in particular, giving the impression of being a little ‘luke warm’ towards AI products
By: talltower - 17th September 2011 at 06:10
Air France KLM to Order and Option 60 A350 XWBs, 50 Boeing 787s
Article excerpt from Airlines and Destinations
Air France KLM to Order and Option 60 A350 XWBs, 50 Boeing 787s
Air France KLM’s board of directors has approved orders by the group for 25 Airbus A350-900s and 25 Boeing 787-9s, along with options on 35 more A350 XWBs and 25 more 787s.
The group says its commitment for up to 110 long-haul aircraft (50 on firm order and 60 optioned) is still subject to finalization of discussions with the manufacturers.
However, having received approval for the orders from its board, Air France KLM says it will now sign memoranda of understanding with Airbus, Boeing and Rolls Royce and it expects to finalize purchase contracts for its A350-900s and 787-9s before the end of the year.
In the medium term, this first joint long-haul order by Air France and KLM will replace 200-to-350-seat aircraft in the two carriers’ fleets. The order will also support the two airlines’ service growth, according to Air France KLM.
By: merlin2 - 16th September 2011 at 12:56
http://www.france24.com/en/20110916-air-france-klm-splits-order-between-airbus-boeing
Air France board spurns French govenment . This is a huge blow to Airbus….
By: talltower - 13th September 2011 at 08:43
ROLE HLDG ADR : Rolls-Royce Trent XWB passes test milestones
Article excerpt from 4-Traders
ROLE HLDG ADR : Rolls-Royce Trent XWB passes test milestones
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine has passed a significant milestone on the journey to support the first flight and entry into service of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.
The engine has completed a 150-hour endurance type test at INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial) in Madrid, Spain. Based on the internal condition of the engine, speeds and temperatures were increased from the original target during the test.
The engine has now been sent back to Rolls-Royce in Derby for a complete strip down and analysis to confirm durability and component performance predictions following the test. The engine will also be available for examination by existing and potential customer airlines.
Chris Young, Rolls-Royce Chief Engineer – Trent XWB said: “This is a challenging test, the successful completion of which builds confidence in the maturity and reliability that we have designed into the engine right from the start of the Trent XWB programme. The turbine entry temperatures we were able to demonstrate during the testing deliver substantial margin at the full 84,000lb rating for the A350-900, providing further confidence in the on-wing life of the engine. It’s a great result.”
By: pierrepjc - 7th September 2011 at 18:54
Not SO!
Oliver
Please note Broughton is in WALES, not England.
Paul
By: Oliver Gigacz - 7th September 2011 at 14:25
Earlier this week, the first “Upper Wing” cover for a flying Airbus A350, was transferred to wing assebly, in Broughton, England.
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September 7, 2011 at 9:01 am