The Airbus A350-1000 was tested in extreme weather conditions. Photo / Supplied
The Airbus A350-1000 was tested in extreme weather conditions. Photo / Supplied
The latest Airbus widebody aircraft, the A350-1000, has received certification from European and United States authorities and is on schedule for delivery to Qatar Airways later this year.
The three A350-1000 flight test aircraft successfully accumulated over 1600 flight hours.
Of these, 150 flight test hours were completed withthe same aircraft in an airline-like operational environment, including in extreme cold conditions, to demonstrate its readiness for entry into service.
The Airbus A350-1000 will take 40 more passengers. Photo / Supplied
The 369-seat plane was given Type Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The certified aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.
Airbus executive vice president engineering, Charles Champion, said receiving the A350-1000 Type Certification from EASA and FAA less than one year after its first flight was an "incredible" achievement for Airbus.
"The A350-1000 benefits from the maturity of its successful brother, the A350-900, which has translated into excellent right-on-time performance. We now look forward to deliver the first aircraft to Qatar Airways by the end of the year."
To date, 11 customers from five continents have ordered a total of 169 A350-1000s.
The A350-1000 has 95 per cent common systems and parts as earlier model A350s part numbers and same type rating.
The A350-1000 has 95 per cent common systems and parts as earlier model A350s. Photo / Supplied
As well as having a longer fuselage to accommodate 40 more passengers than the A350-900, in a typical three-class configuration, the A350-1000 also features a modified wing trailing-edge, new six-wheel main landing gears and more powerful Rolls-Royce engines
