Feature story

The integration of modern approach and precision landing system capability in Airbus' A320 single-aisle aircraft Family will provide valuable time and fuel savings for airlines, while increasing airport capacity.

Airbus' Extended Service Goal package will allow A320 Family operators to extend the operating lifetime of their aircraft by 10 to 20 years or more, and benefit from longer revenue service as well as increased residual market value of their single-aisle fleet.

Tarmac Aerosave, a joint venture between Airbus and several partners, will be the first industrial company to manage end-of-life aircraft when activity begin later this year. It will offer its services - which include short-term storage, maintenance and dismantling - to both civil and military aircr...

Research into alternative fuels

The first ever passenger flight linking the Australian and Antarctic continents has been performed by an Airbus Corporate Jetliner. Operated by Skytraders Pty. Ltd. on behalf of the Australian government's Antarctic Division, the ACJ landed on a new ice runway located some 70 km. from the Case...

Airbus' development of its new A350 XWB is benefiting from the increased use of computational fluid dynamics, which helps define the all-new jetliner's external shape. This technology will speed up the A350 XWB's development process, complementing traditional wind tunnel testing.

The Airbus Corporate Jet Centre in Toulouse, France will undergo a major improvement to provide a world-class cabin-outfitting service for corporate and VIP customers. The facility has received its first two Airbus Corporate Jetliner Family aircraft to undergo the cabin installation process.

Airbus' new A350 XWB will incorporate the latest high-lift technology in its wings, allowing for greater dynamic response and flexibility. This will provide better aircraft performance, reduced weight, and less maintenance for A350 XWB operators.

A multi-year European project has evaluated new wing technologies that will improve aircraft operations in all aspects of flight. The Airbus-managed AWIATOR (Aircraft Wing with Advanced Technology Operation) programme involved the participation of companies, institutes, agencies and universities, a...

The largest Airbus aircraft component ever produced by a Chinese aviation manufacturer has been delivered by Xian Aircraft Company (XAC). This A319 wing box  the first ever made in China  underscores Airbus' high level of industrial cooperation with the Chinese aviation industry, a...

The initial A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) allocated for America's modernisation of its ageing aerial refuelling fleet has begun its build-up on the A330/A340 final assembly line in Toulouse.

The runway at Finkenwerder has been completed, providing the length necessary for acceptance flights of all A380 versions. Airbus currently outfits the cabin interiors of its customer aircraft at Finkenwerder, and it is to construct a new delivery centre where customers from Europe and the Middle E...

Airbus UK is marking the first half-century of operation with its Filton wind tunnel, which has completed more than 64,000 test runs since 1957. This facility, which underwent a significant modernisation in 2004, continues to support the development of new Airbus aircraft - including the A350 XWB.

The A380 static test airframe will be used as part of Airbus' forward-looking approach to ensure its aircraft are environmentally friendly throughout their lifecycle - and beyond. As part of the PAMELA project, parts of the static airframe will be evaluated for a number of aspects, including di...

A new spares and repair facility for Airbus' Buxtehude subsidiary has opened in the United Arab Emirates at Dubai to provide enhanced customer support and service to the region's airlines. The Buxtehude subsidiary provides cabin electronic systems, and already has similar service centres ...

The A380's cabin advantages for passengers and crew were underscored at the annual Aircraft Interiors show in Hamburg, where Airbus emphasized the aircraft's spaciousness, and comfort. Event attendees also were able to see the A380 that recently returned from an international route proving...

An A300-600ST Beluga transport aircraft has delivered the first central-rear fuselage for Airbus' A400M military airlifter to Getafe, Spain. This component will be integrated with the A400M's nose, wings and empennage to create a complete airframe that will be used in static testing.

The Airbus engineering centre in Bejing, China - which will play an important role in the A350 XWB's design and development - currently has 104 locally-employed engineers and is on target to reach its head count of 200 by 2008. This Airbus joint venture with China's two largest aviation c...

The world's first engine pylons produced completely in titanium have been unveiled in France prior to their shipment to Spain, where they will be equipped for use on Airbus' A400M military transport aircraft. These pylons will support the A400M's powerful TP400-D6 turboprop engines, ...

Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) flights to Antarctica will involve operations in extreme conditions - including landings and takeoffs from a blue ice runway that is topped by a bonded snow pavement. This passenger and cargo air service, performed for the Australian Government Antarctic Division, is...

An innovative three-dimensional textile has been created by the Airbus Design Studio for Portugal's national airline, TAP, using patented stamping techniques that create patterned material which a shiny or matt effect. The process - which was evolved in partnership with Lantal Textile (an aero...

Airbus will lead a public/private-funded wing technology validation programme that forms a core element of the U.K. National Aerospace Technology Strategy. This programme brings together 17 leading British organisations to work on such "sustainable aviation" challenges as reduced fuel bu...

The A400M military transport's initial set of wings has completed its assembly process at the Airbus U.K. facility in Filton, Bristol. These wings are the first for an Airbus aircraft to be built largely from composite materials.

Updates to the A320 Family will ensure this world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft product line will continue to maintain its dominant marketplace position. Interior improvements include innovate ceiling and sidewall panels that reduce noise, as well as smoother lines and advanced lighting...

The European "Clean Sky" initiative is one major step closer to reality following the signature of a memorandum of understanding in Vienna by Airbus and eight other leading aeronautics companies. This effort is aimed at further reducing the impact of air transportation on the environment ...

The use of a more environmentally-friendly mechanical process in the manufacture of aluminium aircraft panels is the focus of an evaluation project by Airbus in partnership with Dufieux Industrie. This effort, called GAP (Green Advanced Panels), would eliminate waste created with chemical milling -...

Airbus is setting up a special centre in Southwest France for its

aircraft-recycling project called PAMELA, which will test procedures for the environmentally-friendly recycling of jetliners that have reached the end of their operational lifetimes.

Initial deliveries of Airbus aircraft to customers have begun from a large new centre in Toulouse, France in preparation for its full operational startup in early 2007. The new delivery facility at Toulouse Blagnac International Airport is significantly larger than Airbus' existing centre, and...

An Airbus project has resulted in the development of a new, environmentally-friendly fire extinguishing system for aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, underscoring the company's commitment to the environment. The halon-free system consists of a sphere partially filled with Novec 1230, ...

Airbus' customer services offering has been re-branded to underscore all of the capabilities available to operators of its aircraft around the world. "Air+ by Airbus" provides a comprehensive range of support and services that enhance the quality of operations, and which can be tailo...

A new, lighter-weight antenna will enable A380 pilots to keep in contact with air traffic controllers and their own operations departments via satellite. Satellite relay links are particularly important when the aircraft is over water or is crossing remote areas during long-range flights.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has taken delivery of one of the world's most luxurious passenger airliners ever built - an A340-500 equipped with a multitude of special features. With three classes - Diamond, Pearl and Coral - the new aircraft offers world-cl...

The unification of Europe is now moving skyward, as the region's air traffic control system becomes more integrated and unified. Airbus is an important element of this pan-European effort, participating in the Air Traffic Alliance association, which also includes EADS and Thales.

A new engine run-up facility in Toulouse, France will be used for full-scale testing of jet engines once they have been integrated on Airbus aircraft. The circular-shaped test complex allows technicians to validate the engines' performance up to their full thrust output.

Airbus is using a new transparent polyester film to protect the delicate cladding of fuselage sections during assembly. The film, which is 125 micrometres thick, covers the joints of the fuselage segments before they are drilled, positioned and riveted. Following successful trials, the film will be ...

Airbus has signed agreements with major suppliers to balance and secure the supply of titanium to meet long-term requirements for its ramp-up in production, in particular for the A380. The supply contracts were signed with RTI International Metals, Inc., of the United States, Russia's VSMPO an...

A flying display of the Airbus A318 Elite corporate airliner was the center of attention at the opening day of the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, which continues through 5 May. Also on display at EBACE is the A319 Long Range corporate jet, which features a ne...

Participating in the 2006 Aviation & Environmental Summit, Airbus underscored its commitment to environmental care and the harmonising of aviation sector efforts in this area. Airbus executives attending the annual gathering - held April 25-26 in Geneva, Switzerland - underscored the company's...

Airbus' new Toulouse, France delivery centre was officially named after one of the company's founding fathers, Henri Ziegler, during a ceremony on April 10. Ziegler supported and helped launch the A300B  which led to the successful debut of Airbus  while acting as the organisa...

The arrival of an A300-B2 at Tarbes airport in southwest France marked an important milestone in the Airbus-led PAMELA recycling project. This A300, which reached the end of its operational life, will be used to validate environmentally-responsible techniques for the decommissioning and recycling o...

The arrival of an A300-B2 at Tarbes airport in southwest France marked an important milestone in the Airbus-led PAMELA recycling project. This A300, which reached the end of its operational life, will be used to validate environmentally-responsible techniques for the decommissioning and recycling o...

Airbus engineers have merged technological innovation and efficiency in the development of an electronic jigboard - a cable harness manufacturing device that makes the cable positioning process more flexible. Along with meeting the demand for custom products ready on short notice, the e-jigboard off...

Airbus' new Filton, U.K fuel systems test facility will become a vital catalyst for engineers studying improvements in fuel modeling and researching emerging technologies. Initial operations include fuel testing on A380 wing tanks and work on the A400M and A350 aircraft.

Airbus has adopted a new moving line concept for the assembly of its A320 Family in Hamburg. The moving line will cut assembly time by 40 per cent and help ramp-up production to 30 aircraft per month.

Airbus' growing and successful electronic catalogue is expected to provide around 120 products on the Airbus World secured portal, all while offering customers the ability to order parts, purchase cabin upgrades and see their information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The National Business Aviation Association's annual meeting and convention in Florida provided the setting for Airbus to highlight its continuing sales success with the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) family, which has logged 11 new orders plus four commitments so far this year.

The Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Network met for a second time in late October to discuss new initiatives for future cooperation in Airbus services and to validate the Network's role as an enabling tool to deliver new and enhanced services to Airbus customers.

The Airbus strategy to expand its executive jet/VIP market presence in North America has moved forward with the first U.S. order for an Airbus Corporate Jetliner.

Lufthansa Technik has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for cooperation on A380 VIP cabin completion projects, and unveiled its latest interior concepts for this 21st century flagship jetliner.

Airbus has launched the newest member of its Airbus Corporate Jetliner family - the A318 Elite - which has been ordered by Swiss charter company Comlux AG for deliveries beginning in early 2007.