The A350 XWB is beginning to take shape as program suppliers are being selected in earnest. Airbus is expecting that 90% of suppliers for the A350 should be locked down before March of 2008.
The last week has brought the program two new, very significant, program suppliers.
The first, a billion dollar contract for the fuel and hydraulic systems, went to Parker Aerospace of Irvine, CA. The contract is notable not only for the systems involved, but the physical location of the company. Airbus has sought to work with dollar-based suppliers since the Euro has gained significant strength over the US Dollar causing significant financial hardship for the European airframer. Moving work outside the Euro-zone gives Airbus the breathing room it has sought over the last few months.
The second massive contract, which is for the flight deck and avionics package, went to Thales (pronounced Tah-les). The contract is valued at a staggering $2.9 billion over the next twenty years. The relaunch of the A350 XWB during the Farnborough Air Show in 2006 set into motion a complete redesign of the new composite long range twin. Airbus unveiled it's new next generation flight deck which consists of six 15-inch LCD displays and standard Heads Up Displays back in September as part of that redesign.
Correction: The LCD displays are only 15 inches.
Image Courtesy Airbus SAS
Airbus has already chosen several major systems suppliers for the XWB including:
Goodrich - Engine Nacelle and Thrust Reverser
Honeywell - Auxiliary Power Unit and Air Management System
Moog - Primary Flight Control Actuation System
Messier-Dowty and Liebherr-Aerospace - Landing Gear
Rockwell Collins - Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator
Rolls Royce - Engines
Early indications of the final design have begun to emerge as well, with the definition of the redesigned nosed being released back in September.
Image Courtesy Flight International Magazine
The detailed definition of the aircraft is expected to be frozen later this year. The wings are likely to feature a sweep slightly less than the original concept design of 35 degrees. Another central question to the A350 XWB program is the inclusion of General Electric engines on all variants of the new Airbus. Airbus and GE have been in negotiation about adding a second engine along side the Trent XWB by Rolls Royce. GE is contractually obligated to Boeing not to develop an engine that would compete with its popular GE90 which flies on the 777. With questions popping up about the fuel consumption of the Trent 1000 engines (a close cousin of the Trent XWB) operators are likely pressing Airbus hard for a second choice. In an interview last week, Allan McArtor, Chairman of Airbus North America, said, “We’re disappointed that GE hasn’t joined the program yet.” Adding, “We’re confident that issues are being worked through. It hasn’t happened yet, but we believe it will.”
on January 22, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply
16in LCDs? thats insane. but im looking forward to seeing the final nose design! *cross my fingers, please let it be the one in the concept renderings
on January 22, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply
Why less sweep and what does this mean for speed and range? Remember that ILFC's Hazy pounded Airbus for equal speed to the 787, hence the 35 degree sweep.
Also: could Engine Alliance Partners be a possibility for an engine? GE is a JV with PW so would the exclusive with the Lazy B and GE prevent GE from doing EAP for the XWB?(I love acronyms!)
on January 22, 2008 7:01 PM | Reply
"Also: could Engine Alliance Partners be a possibility for an engine? GE is a JV with PW so would the exclusive with the Lazy B and GE prevent GE from doing EAP for the XWB?(I love acronyms!)"
Didn't we hear a denial from GE about that?
I bet PW has been trying to push EA in that direction however.
on January 22, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply
Of note Air Europa have just ordered eight 787.
They were launch customers for the original A350 (and nominated GE engines). Is this a case of an airline being swayed by engine availability?
on January 22, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply
sorry - just noticed Air Europa ordered the Trent, so there goes that theory!
on January 23, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply
''Of note Air Europa have just ordered eight 787.
They were launch customers for the original A350 (and nominated GE engines). Is this a case of an airline being swayed by engine availability?''
Availability, price and size (they currently have A330s) may be factors.
on January 23, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply
SO FAR SO GOOD.
Thank you Jon for the report. You should add a report of the current firm and commitments of the A350XWB, Airbus just released the tally orders to December 2007, and with the TAM order there are more than 314 FIRM orders already (quoted from the last A350 press release) and think therea are many commitments aswell. See you.
on January 25, 2008 5:30 AM | Reply
As always, question about GE supplying a new engine lies into the involvement of SNECMA/SAFRAN into the program.
We know they want to get involved into one, but as I don't know anything about the small prints of the GE/Boeing contract for sole engine manufacturor of the large 777 variants, i can only speculate on will happen :)
As I said before, i'm pretty sure AFKLM are pushing both Airbus and Safran to get GE to produce an engine for the 350XWB. Question is, will they succed ? And I seriously think also that this matter involves pressure from european governements (mostly the French one) as it would create lots of noise if AFKLM ended up ordering 100+ 787 planes ... And with Safran beeing a company doing so much business with the French governement, you do the math.