A350 XWB

sarius SG

Airbus reveals all-new A350 XWB flightdeck design

Airbus has severed links with the A380 for its new A350 XWB cockpit, adopting an all-new configuration that rivals the Boeing 787 in the size of display screens.

After discussions with customers, weve decided to go away from the A380-sized cockpit displays and adopt larger 15in (38cm) displays, says A350 XWB chief engineer Gordon McConnell.

The XWB had previously been proposed with a cockpit based on that of the A380. Its new six screen configuration has two central displays mounted one above the other (the lower one on the centre console in front of the thrust levers) and a single primary flight/navigation display in front of each pilot with an on-board information system screen adjacent to it.

McConnell says that there were two main drivers behind the decision to revamp the cockpit: The ability to share some of this airport and navigation information on the centre display is seen as advantage for the pilots because it means they can be looking at the same display together."

He adds that it will also allow Airbus to put some more advances in navigation technology on to the displays in the future.

sarius SG

Airbus lowers A350 XWB engine thrust requirements

The static thrust requirements for the engines powering Airbuss A350 XWB family will be lower than first estimated after the airframer established that the aircrafts aerodynamic performance will be better than that originally forecast.

Airbus has frozen the static thrust levels at sea level/15o C for all three A350 variants for entry-into-service with Rolls-Royce, which is the XWB programmes sole supplier with its Trent XWB engine family.

The static thrust levels are 74,000lb (329kN), 83,000lb and 92,000lb for the A350-800, -900 and 1000, respectively. These are between 1,000 and 4,000lb lower than previous estimates, says A350 XWB chief engineer Gordon McConnell.

"After windtunnel and development work on low speed performance, weve improved our level of prediction and believe we have better performance than anticipated at the start of the programme," says McConnell.

"We found that we were well, well inside our targets for take-off field length and so on," he adds. "Weve also improved the braking of the aircraft which has allowed us to reduce the thrust levels."

sarius SG

Metallic strips will ensure electrical continuity in A350's carbon frame

Airbus's decision to switch the fuselage frames from aluminium to carbonfibre has eliminated one advantage that the former offered - the provision of a natural "electrical system network" throughout the fuselage to dissipate lightning strikes and to provide a current return path for systems.

A350 XWB chief engineer Gordon McConnell says that Airbus has modelled how to retain the electrical continuity with the switch to carbonfibre and decided "to fit metallic strips around the frames, which gives an equivalent electrical network to a metallic frame".

McConnell says the switch to carbon frames is "relatively weight-neutral" as any savings from the lighter material is offset by the need to add the metallic strips. The move addresses concerns about corrosion risks between the metallic frames and carbonfibre fuselage panels.

"Our customers saw this as a disadvantage as there would have to be a cost later on in the aircraft's life to access this area to carry out inspections," says McConnell.

sarius SG

Airbus finalises A350 work packages

Having just awarded Honeywell the contract to supply the A350 XWB's "air package" comprising the auxiliary power unit and related systems, Airbus is finalising vendor selection for the other main system packages, says programme chief Didier Evrard.

"We are very close to announcing the landing-gear supplier," says Evrard, adding that the target is to have selected 70% of the systems before year-end. Other major packages to be allocated include avionics and the power-generation system.

Evrard says that work packages for production of the A350's airframe have been defined and number "around 10". These will be awarded to Airbus factories and outside suppliers.

In parallel with bidding processes for XWB packages, partners are being sought for Airbus's French facilities at Meaulte and St Nazaire Ville, its German sites at Nordenham and Varel, and Filton in the UK as part of the airframer's Power8 restructuring programme.

Airbus says it has narrowed the shortlist of bidders from an initial 11 to five companies: GKN, Latecoere, MT Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems and Voith.

"In line with Airbus' strategy to develop a network of first-tier suppliers to support the A350 XWB, the partners would share investment risks but also the benefits resulting from their participation in the A350 programme," says Airbus.

Germany's MT Aerospace and Voith have each been linked with the Varel and Nordenham facilities, while Latecoere is pursuing Meaulte and Saint Nazaire Ville.

Spirit has said that it would be interested in the German and French locations, and UK-based GKN has confirmed interest in Filton.

Airbus' German facility at Laupheim is also being sold and another German site, Augsburg, is under consideration for inclusion. Adding Augsburg to the programme would require Airbus to extend the sale period to give interested parties time to adjust their bids.