Airbus started assembly of the first A350 XWB’s horizontal tailplane (HTP) in Getafe. The joining of the two lateral boxes will produce the 17 meter span primary structure of the HTP. Structural assembly will continue over the coming weeks, followed by the installation of the unit’s electric and hydraulic systems. Once the assembly and equipping work is finished, the HTP will be flown by Airbus’ Beluga transport aircraft to the Final Assembly Line in Toulouse.
It is very interesting to see how Airbus is making A350 announcements – they release something every time there’s another step in the A350 program. Pictures and short PR keeps the news flowing and the A350 news bubbling to the top of industry news. This is very clever because it demonstrates progress on a regular basis. It may also be part of an attempt to hush the program delay noise.
Which could work provided Airbus does not have any program slippage. Remember when Boeing gave regular 787 program updates? Then suddenly they stopped because there was no good news and the questions became pretty pointed and nasty. One hopes Airbus will not create a similar situation where expectations are not met. It’s a gamble and one would hope that, post A380, Airbus will not fumble this program. It looks good, so far.
It’s a very interesting analysis you make Addison of those progress reports. It’s a double-edged sword, like you have pointed out.
I would lean in favour of the open approach. Don’t try to hide anything. If you are making progress let us know, because we are interested. On the other hand, if things start to slide a little or are going in the wrong direction, let us know as well. It’s sometime much worst to try to hide things. Especially after people have finally discovered the truth.
That goes for the 787 and the A350. But what about the CSeries? We haven’t heard much lately. Until mid year Bombardier was giving us regular progress reports and then nothing. It worries me for we are entering a period when the news about the CSeries should be pouring in. That is if the original schedule was met. But apparently it is not.
Now the rumour mill has started for the CSeries. Possibly a nine month delay and things like that. I think Bombardier should be open and frank and tell us the truth as soon as possible. Maybe they are. I don’t know. But almost everyone expects a major delay because that is what has been happening for just about every major projects in recent years.
Delays can be forgiven. Lies are not.