Photos: Airbus installs Trent XWB engines on the first A350 XWB

by Devesh Agarwal

European airframer Airbus has installed the two massive Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines on the frame of the first A350XWB to fly, MSN1, Toulouse in France.

The Trent XWB engine had received its Engine Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last month confirming its fulfilment of the agency's airworthiness requirements.

Along with the engines, Airbus is also installing the Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary power unit (APU), specially developed for the A350 and which offers greater power density and higher efficiency than the previous generation APUs.

See a photo time line of the Airbus A350 XWB below

Almost one month ago to the date, Airbus had rolled out A350 MSN1 from indoor testing to the outdoor testing. With the installation of the engines and APU, Airbus A350XWB MSN1 is for all practical purposes, a 'complete' aircraft. Airbus is targeting the first flight of MSN001 by the middle of this year.

Additional photos are posted on our Facebook page. Click here to visit our page. From there go to the photos section and you will see the Trent XWB album. While on Facebook, please give our our page a "like".

A350 AWB time-line (in photos)

February 2012. First flight of the Trent XWB engine (along with video)
April 2012. A350 XWB enters the Final Assembly Line
August 2012. Airbus powers up the cockpit of A350 XWB MSN1
September 2012. Wings arrive for first A350 XWB
February 2013. Airbus moves complete A350 XWB MSN1 airframe to outdoor testing
March 2013. Trent XWB engines installed on A350 XWB MSN1

Read our tribute on the 25th anniversary of the first A320 delivery

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Honeywell Technology Solutions trains its aerospace engineers as pilots. A first in India.

In a first of its kind in the Indian aerospace industry, Honeywell Aerospace and Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) trained 16 of its development engineers and graduated them with a private pilot's license (PPL). The PPL training was started in 2010 to train HTS engineers to think and act like pilots in real flight conditions.

There has always been a gap between pilots, and engineers developing aerospace and avionics solutions. With this training, Honeywell hopes to improve the engineers' understanding of the challenges pilots face, which leads to better determination of product requirements from a pilot’s perspective. Engineers also improve their technical communications skills in the language of pilots, improving Honeywell delivery of aerospace and avionics solutions.

Participants must attend 200 hours of classroom training and pass an exam, before completing in-air training. The program culminates with 20 hours of flying solo and 10 hours of flying cross-country.

Tim Mahoney, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace summarises the program

“By enabling our engineers to understand the cockpit from a pilot’s perspective is a new approach for India’s aerospace industry,” “Through their pilot training, these engineers can now truly understand what it’s like for a pilot flying an aircraft, and use the live interaction and experience to develop technologies that are even closer aligned with our customers’ needs.”

Honeywell’s avionics portfolio includes communication, navigation and surveillance systems, flight display systems, and flight control and management systems for general and business aviation, commercial air transport, military aircraft and space-based platforms.

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Siuchan Airlines orders 20 COMAC C919

On October 21st, 2011 , Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC for short) announced an order from Siuchan Airlines for 20 of its narrowbody C919 aircraft. Earlier in the week, COMAC had won an order for 45 C919s from Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd.’s leasing arm.

The COMAC C919 is a large narrowbody aircraft designed to compete with the Boeing 737MAX and Airbus A320neo. The airplane is projected to make its first flight in 2014, and its first delivery is planned for 2016. While the design and production of the airliners are based in China, foreign companies play a significant role in its production as well. CFM International, a GE-Saras joint venture is producing the engines for the aircraft, and other foreign companies such as Honeywell play a role in constructing the aircraft's flight systems.


The order from Siuchan Airlines brings the total firm orders for the C919 to 105. China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, and Air China are the other airlnes who have ordered the type. Additionally, GE's leasing wing has an order for 10 C919s, with 55 more from Chinese leasing firms. Despite this modest success, the C919 will likely not be taken seriously until it garners an order from a major non-Chinese airline. Ryanair's Michael O'Leary indicated an interest in the C919 earlier this year, but aviation analysts have speculated that his statements were designed to put pressure on Boaing and Airbus for better pricing terms.

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Continental successfully completes bio-fuel flight, more airlines should follow

Following the successful bio-fuel test at Air New Zealand just 9 days ago, Continental Airlines, became the first U.S. airline to conduct a successful bio-fuel test yesterday, January 7.

The test at Continental was very similar to the one at Air New Zealand. The air-frame manufacturer was Boeing, at Continental it was a Boeing 737-800, while at Air New Zealand it was a Boeing 747. The technologist was UOP in both cases. The fuel was the same 50 per cent Jatropha mixed with 50% Jet A-1. The engine manufacturer at Continental was CFM, while at Air New Zealand it was Rolls Royce.

I applaud the efforts of Virgin, Air New Zealand, and Continental, and other participants in the bio-fuel tests, and exhort other airlines to also move towards aviation bio-fuels, most especially, Indian carriers. India is a major source of Jatropha, a major source for one the components of the aviation bio-fuel.

Thanks to the global economic slowdown, the price of oil may be low today, but it will rise once again, in the future. For much too long, the world has entrusted it's complete energy needs, in the hands of one of the most volatile regions on earth, the middle east, and Russia, a nation reverting back to it's pushy Soviet-era bullying.

We have to develop and implement alternatives sources of energy, if for no other reason, economic security. The savings and benefits to our planet, is an added bonus.

The flight designated CO9990 was conducted from Houston (KIAH) airport. Taken up to FL380 (38,000 ft), and descended as low at 4,300 feet, and was tested at varying altitudes and speeds, and with normal and non-normal flight maneuvers.

The full track of the flight can be seen here, image is below.


The full press release by Continental provides the full details.

Continental Airlines Flight Demonstrates Use of Sustainable Biofuels as Energy Source for Jet Travel

HOUSTON, Jan 07, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today is demonstrating the use of sustainable biofuel to power a commercial aircraft for the first time ever in North America. The demonstration flight -- which is being conducted in partnership with Boeing, GE Aviation/CFM International, and Honeywell's UOP -- marks the first sustainable biofuel demonstration flight by a commercial carrier using a two-engine aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines.

"This demonstration flight represents another step in Continental's ongoing commitment to fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Kellner. "The technical knowledge we gain today will contribute to a wider understanding of the future for transportation fuels."

The biofuel blend includes components derived from algae and jatropha plants, both sustainable, second-generation sources that do not impact food crops or water resources or contribute to deforestation. The algae oil has been provided by Sapphire Energy, and the jatropha oil by Terasol Energy. This is the first time a commercial carrier will power a flight using fuel derived in part from algae.

Continental's Boeing 737-800, tail number 516, will depart from and return to Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport operating under a specially-issued "Experimental" aircraft type certificate, and will carry no passengers.

During the flight, which will last approximately two hours, Continental test pilots will engage the aircraft in a number of normal and non-normal flight maneuvers, such as mid-flight engine shutdown and re-start, and power accelerations and decelerations. A Continental engineer will record flight data onboard.

The flight will operate with a biofuel blend, which consists of 50 percent biologically-derived fuel and 50 percent traditional jet fuel, in the No. 2 engine. This biofuel blend will result in a significant net decrease in carbon emissions relative to traditional jet fuel, as both jatropha and algae consume carbon during their lifecycles.

The aircraft's No. 1 engine will operate on 100 percent traditional jet fuel, allowing Continental to compare performance between the biofuel blend and traditional fuel. As Continental has worked with Boeing, GE Aviation/CFM and UOP for more than nine months to carefully evaluate and test the biofuel in engines on the ground, no difference in performance is expected.

The biofuel is a "drop-in" fuel, and no modifications to the aircraft or engine are necessary for the flight to operate. The biofuel meets and exceeds specifications necessary for jet fuel, including a flash point and a freezing point appropriate for use in aircraft.

Following the flight, Continental will participate with its partners in post-flight engine analysis to ensure that the effect on the engine and aircraft, in addition to performance, is substantively no different between biofuel and traditional fuel.

"Through their leadership Continental Airlines is helping aviation pioneer a greener, more diverse fuel supply for the future," said Billy Glover, managing director, Environmental Strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Having a broader, more sustainable fuel portfolio is vital to our industry and demonstrating the viability of these renewable fuels addresses that goal, while potentially helping to further reduce environmental impacts."

"UOP's goal with renewable technology is to produce real fuels that perform as well as or better than their petroleum-based alternatives and that leverage the existing fuel infrastructure and fleet technology to lower capital costs and simplify adoption," said General Manager of UOP Renewable Energy and Chemicals Jennifer Holmgren. "With our proven technology and the commitment of aviation leaders like Continental and Boeing, sustainable biofuels for aviation are a real near-term option. We believe that production levels could reach hundreds of millions of gallons per year by 2012."

"We still have a lot of work to do in terms testing various biofuels but we are very pleased with, and encouraged by, the results we have achieved to date," said Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of CFM International. "What we have found is that the second generation fuel being tested today comes closer to simulating the characteristics of traditional jet fuel in terms of engine performance and operability, such as fuel consumption, engine start and other parameters. We have also found that engines running this mix emit less smoke even than those fueled by traditional jet fuel."

"The simple combination of sunlight, CO2 and algae to produce a carbon-neutral, renewable fuel source has the potential to profoundly change the petrochemical landscape forever," said Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy CEO. "Today's flight puts us one step closer to moving away from fossil fuels and energy dependency, and with no impact on the transportation infrastructure, food sources or the environment."

"We are excited to be pioneering the development of bio-based jet fuels along with Continental Airlines," said Sanjay Pingle, president, Terasol Energy. "Jatropha is one of several next generation fuel sources that we are working on in order to develop sustainable, scalable and renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products."

About Continental

Continental has a company-wide commitment to environmental responsibility. On average, Continental burns approximately 18 gallons of fuel to fly one mainline revenue passenger 1,000 miles, which represents a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption since 1997. This is due in large part to the efforts of its employees in streamlining operational procedures and to an investment of more than $12 billion to acquire 270 fuel-efficient Boeing aircraft and related equipment. Continental remains committed to further improving fuel efficiency in the decade to come, including investing in its fleet with orders for more than 50 Boeing 737-900 Next Generation aircraft, and 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Continental has also reduced, by 75 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions from ground equipment at the carrier's largest hub in Houston through switching to electric ground service equipment and other new technology. This technology is now being tested for use in cold climates.

Through these investments and other projects, including the construction of airport facilities in an environmentally responsible manner, the testing of alternative fuels in ground service equipment, offering a credible carbon offsetting program based on the actual fuel burn of the Continental fleet, and an expansive recycling program, Continental will continue to manage the environmental impact of its business.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 134 domestic and 131 international destinations. More than 675 additional points are served via alliance partners. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 69 million passengers per year.

Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For the fifth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2008 list of World's Most Admired Companies. For more company information, go to continental.com.

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Honeywell's "very odd" Boeing 757

Honeywell did a test flight of this very odd looking Boeing 757.


The small engine attached to the front part of the fuselage is being developed for regional jets and private commercial jets.

See all the pictures here from Cupps at Flightglobal Airspace.

Thanks to Jon at FlightBlogger for the tip. Incidentally, Jon has done a very interesting analysis which compares the impact of fuel prices on the operating costs of the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A330. It is definitely worth a read.

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Air New Zealand conducts biofuel flight

The much publicised bio-fuel test flight of Air New Zealand was conducted successfully. Congratulations to the teams at Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls Royce, and UOP division of Honeywell.

The blend of fuel was 50% Jet A-1, and 50% Jatropha oil. The Jatropha plant is grown extensively in India, and bio-diesel is slowly inching its way in to the market. I have opined before, that airlines in India, who are constantly complaining about the cost of fuel should strongly consider the bio-fuel option.

While there are many stories on the flight, I found George Raine's article at the San Francisco Chronicle, and Kris Hall's article at The Dominion Post, the most comprehensive technically.

More details can be found at Air New Zealand's website.

TV NZ has an article along with a video report, which I reproduce below as a convenience to Bangalore Aviation readers.

Read more articles on biofuel at Bangalore Aviation.

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Air New Zealand, Boeing to test sustainable bio-fuels in December flight

Photo courtesy Wikipedia
Air New Zealand and Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced Dec. 3 as the date for the airline's sustainable biofuels flight from Auckland using a 747-400 jetliner. Conducted in partnership with Rolls-Royce and UOP, a Honeywell company, one of the airplane's four Rolls-Royce RB211 engines will be powered in part using advanced generation biofuels derived from jatropha. Air New Zealand now becomes the first airline to use a commercially viable biofuel sourced using sustainability best practices.

Boeing, Air New Zealand and UOP have worked diligently with growers and project developer Terasol Energy to identify sustainable jatropha in adequate quantities to conduct thorough preflight testing. Using proprietary UOP fuel processing technology, the jatropha crude oil was successfully converted to biojet fuel, marking the world's first large-scale production run of a commercially viable and sustainable biofuel for aviation use.

"This flight strongly supports our efforts to be the world's most environmentally responsible airline," said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe. "We recently demonstrated the fuel and environmental gains that can be achieved through advanced operational procedures using Boeing 777s. We're also modernizing our fleet as we await our Trent 1000-powered 787-9 Dreamliners, which will burn 20 percent less fuel than the planes they replace. Introducing a new generation of sustainable fuels is the next logical step in our efforts to further save fuel and reduce aircraft emissions."

As part of the fuel verification process, UK-based engine maker Rolls-Royce's technical team conducted extensive laboratory testing to ensure compatibility with today's jet engine components and to validate the fuel meets stringent performance criteria for aviation fuel.

"In preparation for Air New Zealand's test flight we achieved our near-term goal - identifying and sourcing the first large-scale run of sustainable biofuel for commercial aviation," said Boeing Commercial Airplane's Managing Director of Environmental Strategy Billy Glover. "The processing technology exists today, and based on results we've seen, it's highly encouraging that this fuel not only met but exceeded three key criteria for the next generation of jet fuel: higher than expected jet fuel yields, very low freeze point and good energy density," Glover explained. "That tells us we're on the right path to certification and commercial availability."

Because of the unique environment in which aviation operates, stringent criteria are in place to ensure that any alternative fuel meets or exceeds current jet fuel requirements. Advance testing for the Air New Zealand flight showed that the jatropha-based biofuel met all critical specifications, including a freeze point at -53 degrees Fahrenheit (-47 degrees Celsius) and a flash point at 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

"Laboratory testing showed the final blend had excellent properties, meeting and in many cases exceeding the stringent technical requirements for fuels used in civil and defense aircraft," said Chris Lewis, Rolls-Royce company specialist for fuels. "The blended fuel therefore meets the essential requirement of being a 'drop-in' fuel, meaning its properties will be virtually indistinguishable from conventional fuel, Jet A1, which is used in commercial aviation today."

To process the jatropha crude, the team relied on UOP's green jet fuel processing technology based on hydroprocessing methodologies that are commonly used to produce transportation fuels. During processing, hydrogen is added to remove oxygen from the biomass, resulting in a bio-derived jet fuel that can be used as a petroleum replacement for commercial aviation. Boeing is working with airlines and engine manufacturers to gather biofuel performance data as part of the industry's efforts to revise the current American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards to include fuels from sustainable plant sources. Jatropha, which can be grown in a broad range of conditions, produces seeds that contain inedible lipid oil that is extracted and used to produce fuel. Each seed produces 30 to 40 percent of its mass in oil. Plant oil used to create the fuel for the Air New Zealand flight was sourced from nonarable lands in India and Southeastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania).

Air New Zealand is one of several air carriers working to diversify and secure its energy future through participation in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group. That effort includes a commitment to sustainability criteria for fuel sourcing and commercializing plant-based fuels that perform as well as, or better than, kerosene-based fuel but with a smaller carbon lifecycle. The goal is to create a portfolio of next-generation biofuels that can be blended with traditional kerosene fuel (Jet A) to improve environmental performance.

Additional flight specifics will be announced closer to the actual flight date.

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