Airbus management has finally accepted that its narrowbody ambitions have been unrealistic, but there is confidence the OEM can deliver more widebodies.
Being selected for a new-generation flight management system (FMS) on the Airbus A320, A330 and A350 is consolidating Thales’ position in the avionics market versus Collins Aerospace, GE Aviation and Honeywell.
Qantas has confirmed a much-delayed order for the Airbus A350-1000s it will use for its Project Sunrise ultra-long-range flights; it has also finalized orders for Airbus narrowbodies to replace its domestic fleet.
The proposed airworthiness directive (PAD) is to ensure affected aircraft do not have two production-quality problems that, when subjected to an intense lightning strike, could create a fuel tank vapor ignition source.
