Airbus A350XWB (partie 2)

Admin a écrit:Une pierre, deux coups

Attention au Li-ion qui reste dans l'a380-800 ... quand même

Airbus is offering a reduced weight version of the A350 XWB that
will allow airlines to benefit from lower charges when using the
twinjet on medium-haul operations. It has also firmed up its plans to
offer the aircraft with a 10-abreast seating layout.
"From the start we'll offer the A350
with different take-off weights and a 30t reduction is available that
is suited to medium-haul operations for airlines that don't need the
extra long range," says Francois Caudron, vice-president A350 customer
and business development.
The lower weight will be achieved
through paperwork changes and cockpit placards and will not affect the
aircraft's structure. "An engine derate of up to 40% is also available,"
says Caudron.
Meanwhile, the 10-abreast high-density economy
seating layout study for the A350 is now "on offer" says Caudron, adding
that "there is a potential A350 customer that is interested" in the
layout.
The A350 has an exit limit of 440 passengers with the
standard four-door (per side) configuration, but this would increase to
475 with the optional additional fifth door installed, says Caudron.
However,
while the minimum seat pitch for the A350 in nine-abreast layout is
29in (74cm), this will increase to 31in pitch for 10-abreast seating to
avoid the need to reinforce the cabin floor for the higher density
configuration.

Airbus is confident that
the lithium ion (Li-ion) main battery architecture it has been
developing with Saft and qualifying for the A350 XWB aircraft is robust
and safe. The A350 XWB flight test programme will continue as planned
with the qualified Li-ion main batteries.


However, to date, the root causes of the two recent
industry Li-ion main batteries incidents remain unexplained to the best
of our knowledge. In this context, and with a view to ensuring the
highest level of programme certainty, Airbus has decided to activate its
“Plan B” and therefore to revert back to the proven and mastered nickel
cadmium main batteries for its A350 XWB programme at Entry into Service
(EIS). Airbus considers this to be the most appropriate way forward in
the interest of programme execution and A350 XWB reliability.


In parallel, Airbus has also launched additional
maturity studies on Li-ion main batteries behavior in aerospace
operations and will naturally take on board the findings of the ongoing
official investigation.


As a result of making this decision now, Airbus does not expect it to impact the A350 XWB Entry Into Service schedule.

Designated MSN3, this aircraft will be deployed for a variety of A350
XWB testing – including performance at high and medium altitudes, in
cold weather and hot temperatures and on long-range flights.

Build-up
activity for the no. 3 A350 XWB commenced during February on the final
assembly line, where the aircraft’s three fuselage sections were
transferred following their arrival in Toulouse aboard a Beluga
transporter. It joins the MSN5000 aircraft at Toulouse, currently
undergoing preparations for static testing in another hangar, and MSN1,
which is completing indoor ground evaluations.

Initial assembly
steps for MSN3 included installation of the jetliner’s 50-metre-long
electrical harness for flight test measurements, which – along a
complement of electrical cabinets – forms an advanced “supercomputer”
called METRO. This was followed by the fuselage sections’ successful
moulding at the final assembly line’s Station 50.

There are two
such Station 50 locations for fuselage join-up on the A350 XWB Final
Assembly Line: the first, which is designated Station 50A, and another
called 50B. MSN3 was the first aircraft joined on Station 50B, which had
a higher readiness level thanks to debugging that followed the initial
two jetliners’ assembly on Station 50A.

“The whole process also
is quicker thanks to high maturity of the sections and great efficiency
of the teams who have already trained on the first two aircraft,”
explained Airbus’ Loic Perrin, who in charge of Station 50.