Page 35 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2018 Online Magazine

over the standard A350-900. The A350-
900 ULR has a 9,700 nm range and has
greater take-off mass and more fuel as
compared to the A350-100. Maximum take-
off weight (MTOW) is 280 tonnes and the
aircraft will be able to fly up to 9,700 nau-
tical miles or over 20 hours non-stop. The
aircraft carries 165,000 litres as compared
to 141,000 litres, due to the incorporation
of a higher capacity fuel system within the
existing fuel tanks. Presently, SIA is the only
A350-900 ULR customer. It is possible for
an airline to configure its A350-900ULR to
its standard long-haul A350-900 specifi-
cation. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has seven
of the aircraft on order and is the launch same. “The A350-100 is the most affordable large twin-aisle
operator for the type. It will take delivery model in the world. It is 10 percent cheaper to operate than
of its first A350-900 ULR later this year. the 777-200 and 25 percent cheaper than 777-300 ER,” says
SIA will use the new aircraft to start flights Francois Obé, A350 XWB Programme Marketing Director. In
between Singapore and New York, in what a typical three-class configuration, the A350-1000 can seat
will be the world’s longest commercial ser- 366 passengers with 18-inch-wide Comfort Economy class
vice. The airline will resume these flights seats. The A350-1000 will fly up to14,800 km on entry into
after a gap of five years since New York service and the new Airspace cabin will dramatically enhance
and Los Angeles operations were under- the passenger experience. With a 95 percent commonality
taken by SIA with an A340-500 between in systems part numbers and the same Type Rating, existing
2004 and 2013. SIA has a fleet of 21 A350- A350 users will be able to quickly switch crew from one type
900s (as of December 31 2017) and is one to the other.
of the largest customers for the A350 XWB
Family, having ordered a total of 67 A350-
900s.
Successful Demo Tour

irbus completed a three week
long, 12 city demo tour in February
with A350-1000 test aircraft
AMSN065. The aircraft is one of
three A350-1000 prototypes fitted with
a fully functional cabin with 40 Business
Class seats, 36 Premium Economy Class
seats and 219 Economy Class seats. The
easiest way to distinguish the A350-1000
from its stablemates is by observing the
landing gear bogies; the -1000 has a six
wheel landing gear bogie, as compared to a
four wheel landing gear bogie on the -900.
A six wheel bogie was needed because
of the higher Maximum Take-Off Weight
of the -1000. The A350-1000 also met
its ambitious target of 129,000 kg manu-
facturers empty weight, while the winglet
design has allowed wing size to remain the

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE March/April 2018 | 35