Airbus, despite the recently announced a 3 month delay in the A350XWB program due to automation issues in its wing factory, is making significant progress toward the initial aircraft and first flight. Last week Airbus powered up the cockpit of the A350XWB to being testing of aircraft systems prior to final assembly of the first aircraft. This is a significant milestone, as it moves the aircraft from component assembly into the first testing and integration of various components.
Testing the cockpit section before the aircraft is even completed will provide engineers the opportunity to troubleshoot potential problems, and clear them up before the final assembly of the first aircraft, MSN1, is completed in September. Airbus spokesman Martin Fendt indicated that “the power-up acts as a dry run for the ground tests that will take place on the complete aircraft. This allows us to check the quality and completeness of the nose fuselage.”
Very interesting to see the different approach of Airbus and Boeing. Airbus do not want dozens of planes requiring extensive and expensive rework due to pressing ahead when problems are not resolved.
The delivery pace of the 787 is still slower than expected and the inventory and rework costs must be really hurting the balance sheet.
Very interesting to see the different approach of Airbus and Boeing. Airbus have almost independent joy sticks allowing one pilot to pitch up the aircraft while the other pilot tries to pitch it down not knowing the input of the other pilot. Boeing have traditional linked yokes and what one pilot does, the other really knows.
Then, Airbus have the flight computers really in control most of the time allowing pilots to be come complacent. Pilots just give hints what they want the aircraft to do. There is an incident where pilots of an airbus A320 flew right past their destination with out a clue. Some assume the plane should have warned them as it does most everything else on its own.