Design Of The A350-XWB Case Study
A350-XWB changing the impact of planes
Air travel makes transport around the world more efficient. In 2014, there were approximately 37.4 million scheduled flights of both passenger and cargo airplanes, averaging 102,465 flights a day. This is an increase of 2.7% compared to 2013 (Gunnar Garfors, 2014). To satisfy these demands, the airline industry has increased the number of flights but associated with it is that airplanes burn an immense amount of fuel/energy, polluting the environment. 2% of the carbon emissions are from the airline industry (Gunnar Garfors, 2014). To overcome these challenges, the development of new airplanes and technology is needed, one of which is the design of the A350-XWB.
The A350-XWB is designed for “gate to gate” …show more content…
However, the efficiency of the airplane is not compromised as the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine’s propulsion system allows it to reach speeds up to over 900 km/h (Airbus, 2016). Speed varies with aircraft mass, altitude and temperature (Skybrary, 2013). Increased mass decreases the ability for the aircraft to gain a higher altitude. Travelling at lower altitudes means higher temperatures, which decrease the maximum thrust an engine can …show more content…
These features provide the aircraft with reduced weight making the aircraft lighter.
These innovations to the design, aerodymics and technology on the A350-XWB reduces fuel burn which result in 10,000 tonnes/aircraft carbon dioxide reduction annually compared to the Trent 1000-TEN developed in 2012 (http://www.rolls-royce.com/sustainability/performance/case-studies/improving-fuel-efficiency.aspx).
Other limitations of the Airbus compared to Boeings in general is that the Airbus is based on hydraulic systems, the core of which are are pipes that carry hydraulic fluid under pressure. Any malfunction of this system can cause disasterous effects in terms of safety. Hydraulic fluid also has to be incompressible, meaning it is dense and heavy which contribute to the mass of the aircraft. As hydraulic fluids are petroleum based, they are flammable (https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-new-Airbus-A350XWB-compare-to-the-Boeing-787-Dreamliner). Indirectly, this contributes to the use and burning of fossil fuels, which subsequently contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide
Air travel makes transport around the world more efficient. In 2014, there were approximately 37.4 million scheduled flights of both passenger and cargo airplanes, averaging 102,465 flights a day. This is an increase of 2.7% compared to 2013 (Gunnar Garfors, 2014). To satisfy these demands, the airline industry has increased the number of flights but associated with it is that airplanes burn an immense amount of fuel/energy, polluting the environment. 2% of the carbon emissions are from the airline industry (Gunnar Garfors, 2014). To overcome these challenges, the development of new airplanes and technology is needed, one of which is the design of the A350-XWB.
The A350-XWB is designed for “gate to gate” …show more content…
However, the efficiency of the airplane is not compromised as the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine’s propulsion system allows it to reach speeds up to over 900 km/h (Airbus, 2016). Speed varies with aircraft mass, altitude and temperature (Skybrary, 2013). Increased mass decreases the ability for the aircraft to gain a higher altitude. Travelling at lower altitudes means higher temperatures, which decrease the maximum thrust an engine can …show more content…
These features provide the aircraft with reduced weight making the aircraft lighter.
These innovations to the design, aerodymics and technology on the A350-XWB reduces fuel burn which result in 10,000 tonnes/aircraft carbon dioxide reduction annually compared to the Trent 1000-TEN developed in 2012 (http://www.rolls-royce.com/sustainability/performance/case-studies/improving-fuel-efficiency.aspx).
Other limitations of the Airbus compared to Boeings in general is that the Airbus is based on hydraulic systems, the core of which are are pipes that carry hydraulic fluid under pressure. Any malfunction of this system can cause disasterous effects in terms of safety. Hydraulic fluid also has to be incompressible, meaning it is dense and heavy which contribute to the mass of the aircraft. As hydraulic fluids are petroleum based, they are flammable (https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-new-Airbus-A350XWB-compare-to-the-Boeing-787-Dreamliner). Indirectly, this contributes to the use and burning of fossil fuels, which subsequently contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide