Wednesday, October 1, 2014

A350 XWB EASA certified

The Airbus A350 XWB received type certification for airworthiness from the European Aviation Safety Agency on Sept. 30. Federal Aviation Administration certification of the plane, also called the A350-900, will follow. The A350 XWB is Airbus' all-new mid-size long range product line and the newest member of the wide-body family. Launch customer Qatar Airlines is expected to begin flying the plane before the end of the year. (Sources: Airbus, Derby Telegraph, 09/30/14) Gulf Coast note: The jetliner is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines built in Derby, U.K., and tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss.; the plane was put through extreme weather testing at McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Previous: A350 pays fly-over visit; A350 XWB being tested at Eglin