With air traffic expected to double in the next 15 years, the demand for highly efficient, environment-friendly and low acquisition cost of aircraft has gone up considerably. The aircraft behemoth Airbus has lined up several families of aircraft to cater to this surge in demand and one of them is the A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body) aircraft. The new A350 family provides longrange capability with seating capacities from 270 to 350 passengers and offers optimal efficiency through the A350 XWB’s commonality of systems. Till date, it has notched up orders of 81 aircraft from 39 countries and many more are expected to follow, according to Daniel Wenninger, Senior Director, Head of A350 XWB US Programme. The total opportunity in terms of value the company sees is to the tune of $19 billion.

Flagging the highlights of the programme, Wenninger said that the A350 XWB has a 53 per cent carbon fibre fuselage, thus making the aircraft much lighter and increasing efficiency by 25 per cent over its competitive product. The engines are the latest generation, Trent XWB and the cockpit has large display systems. Over 70 per cent of the flight test on the aircraft has been completed and the aircraft is all set to soar.

As regards the contribution of Honeywell to the programme, Jim Fusaro, Vice President, Marketing & Product Management, Mechanical Sub Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, pointed out that it comprised a comprehensive package of mechanical and avionics products which included the flight management system (FMS), ventilation system, bleed air system, air-conditioning, Airbus aircraft environment surveillance system (AESS), cabin pressure control system and supplemental cooling system and the HGT 1700 auxiliary power unit (APU).

On the programme update, Wenninger mentioned that MSN1 to 5 have flown about 1,700 flight hours and that four aircraft are currently undergoing test flights. MSN5 is on track for type certification in the third quarter. The launch customer is Qatar Airways. As there is considerable interest in the programme by operators, Airbus has plans to deliver three aircraft this year and step up production to 10 per month by 2017.

Enhancing Aircraft Efficiency

A multitude of Honeywell products are contributing to the new Airbus A350 XWB programme. As a Tier-1 Airbus designee, Honeywell provides a more comprehensive package of mechanical and avionics (electronics) products to the A350 XWB than any other current Airbus platform. Honeywell’s integrated mechanical components also help make the aircraft more efficient, reliable and comfortable than ever before. The integration of critical systems help reduce the overall weight of the aircraft and the advanced HGT1700 APU effects a ten per cent reduction in specific APU fuel use and an equivalent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Honeywell’s avionics for the A350 XWB are built upon proven Airbus systems, providing the most advanced FMS and AESS available for a greater level of overall cockpit integration for pilots. Honeywell also provides passengers and crew with enhanced air management systems for a more refreshed, longhaul flying experience.

AirSIB: A Market Differentiator

The A350 XWB Air System Integration Bench (AirSIB) is an integrated test bed for the A350 XWB that enables Honeywell to observe and confirm interaction between control systems and physical characteristics of mechanical hardware. By using AirSIB for the A350 XWB, Honeywell was able to test the APU and all of its air generation and conditioning systems on the platform, making sure all major mechanical and electrical systems work flawlessly together. Last year, for the first time all the major mechanical work packages for an air management system were integrated into a single lab and run together. AirSIB greatly improves system maturity compared to past programmes, where these mechanical systems would only have come together on the first aircraft.

Honeywell Products on the A350 XWB

Mechanical systems. The HGT1700 auxiliary power unit and Starter-Generator are integrated systems that supply pneumatic and electric power for the aircraft while on the ground or in flight. The HGT1700 APU is derived from Honeywell’s 331 series APU, is optimiSed for the A350 XWB and incorporates industry-leading technological advancements to reduce weight, maximise performance and provide safe, efficient and low-cost operations. The air-conditioning system, bleed air system, cabin pressure control system, supplemental cooling system and ventilation system are all part of the integrated mechanical system. Through a holistic approach, Honeywell is able to provide a more comfortable experience for passengers by minimising changes in the cabin environment and reducing the workload for the crew.

Air-conditioning system. Honeywell’s industry-leading air conditioning system technologies deliver conditioned engine bleed air for passenger comfort, cabin pressurisation, equipment cooling and ventilation for various aircraft zones using high-reliability components and integrated solutions to maximise passenger comfort and safety while minimising operator costs.

Starter-generator system. The innovative AC APU starter-generator system provides APU electric start and electrical power generation without the need for a dedicated starter motor and saves substantial weight through the elimination of a dedicated battery and associated feeder cable.

Air management system. Designed especially for the A350 XWB, Honeywell’s air management system builds on its over 50 years of providing integrated aircraft systems that improve passenger comfort and safety.

Avionics systems. The flight management system introduces the latest advances, functions and features, while achieving the goal to create a common cockpit for Airbus wide-body aircraft, enabling pilots to easily transition between aircraft platforms. Honeywell’s latest FMS technology reduces workload for flight crew and enables improved flight planning. The AESS has also been inducted into the A350 aircraft among other Airbus aircraft. This system integrates the traffic collision avoidance system, Mode S transponders, weather radar and the enhanced ground proximity warning system modules into one system, reducing as many as eight avionics boxes down to two. Like the FMS, the latest innovations and features are introduced such as ADS-B IN and airborne traffic situational awareness. The AESS provides critical information to the pilot to enhance safety and efficiency, while increasing cockpit efficiency. The RDR-4000 radar has also been selected for the Airbus A380 and for the US C-17 and Japanese C-X military transport aircraft. It uses pulse compression to provide simultaneous long-range and high-resolution performance and provides 3D volumetric scanning, using ground clutter extraction of the weather and terrain ahead of the aircraft. Honeywell was selected in March 2008 to supply the FMS and AESS. John Bolton, President, Air Transport and Regional, Honeywell Aerospace, has said, “This new and innovative aircraft applies the broad range of avionics and mechanical products and services we offer in a highly integrated manner. Our joint effort offers Airbus customers, pilots and passengers a more efficient, safe and comfortable experience than ever before. The maiden flight is a great milestone we are celebrating with Airbus today and we look forward to extending our relationship for a very long time.”

Key Benefits

• Solutions designed to reduce operating costs and improve reliability.
• Long-term Airbus design partner.
• Comprehensive range of innovative A350 XWB products and integrated systems.
• Critical solutions for aircraft efficiency.
• Advanced mechanical system expertise.
• Global repair service, logistics and customer support network.

Airbus executives visited Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix on May 21 to thank employees for their contribution to Airbus programmes over the last 35 years, including the A320, A380 and the new A350 XWB.

Wenninger expressed the company’s gratitude for Honeywell’s past and future service. “Thank you for a long-lasting partnership and for what each of you has done to support our products. We are especially grateful for the work you have done on the A350 XWB in getting it ready for entrance into service. For example, the HGT-1700 APU is doing outstanding in the test flights and we really appreciate the good work you have done.”

“This town hall meeting provides us the opportunity to express gratitude not only about how well we have done together in the past but how well we are going to do in the future thanks to our partnership,” added Wenninger.