From the A300 to the A350 XWB: Pioneering leadership

Over the past 40 years, Airbus has played a key role in the international air transport industry’s evolution. Achievements such as improving manufacturing techniques, developing global cooperation, and reducing aviation’s environmental impact result from Airbus’ ability to understand market and passenger expectations, and answer them with solutions that have become world standards.

At a time when others were concentrating on three- or four-engine aircraft, Airbus entered the civil aviation scene by developing the first ever widebody twin-engine, the A300B, in the 1970s. This aircraft featured low fuel consumption, reduced external noise levels and highly efficient operating costs, as well as Category 3 landing technology, enhanced comfort and containerised cargo.

In the early 1980s, Airbus improved the A300B with a new concept of forward-facing crew cockpits – which reduced the crew to two pilots while improving safety and introducing new standards for civil aircraft.

Next, it developed a shortened version of the A300: the A310. It was the first commercial widebody to be certified for two-man crew operations from the start, as well as the initial aircraft to use composites for primary structure components.

In the late 1980s, Airbus broke new ground again with the A320 – which set standards for efficiency and cabin comfort, and introduced fly-by-wire flight controls and side-stick controllers into civil aviation.

In the early 1990s, Airbus introduced ultra-efficient aircraft for the medium- and long-range markets: the A330 and A340.

The recent introduction of Airbus’ 21st century flagship A380 marked a new era. Not only is it setting new passenger comfort standards, the aircraft is raising the bar for environmental standards with its low fuel consumption and noise levels – as well as reduced CO2 and NOx emissions.

The A350 XWB will continue Airbus innovation, utilising new technologies and advanced materials such as 53 per cent of CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) while keeping the benefits of commonality.

Airbus always has been forward-thinking, with the environmental impact of its products high on the agenda. Reducing noise and fuel consumption – and thus emissions – as well as managing the full lifecycle of its aircraft all are major objectives. In addition, Airbus is the first aircraft manufacturer to have each of its sites and products awarded ISO 14001-certified status.

To support its growth, Airbus has developed a logistics system to move components over Europe using the specially-designed Super Guppy and Beluga cargo aircraft, ships and road transportation vehicles. Airbus also has created Centres of Excellence to take advantage of local knowledge and skills, and harmonised CAD/CAM systems to create a single virtual mock-up system.

Finally, Airbus revolutionised the industry by convincing European partners to develop and manufacture aircraft components while assembling the aircraft on a single production line. Airbus continues to pioneer with the opening of the A320 Final Assembly Line China (FALC) in Tianjin last year, a clear sign of its innovative approach to international cooperation. Airbus has been built on its ability to draw on the best of Europe and develop innovative products in anticipation of market needs. Airbus employees – engineers, pilots, salesmen, marketers, managers, technicians or workers on the production lines – always have been driven by a spirit of innovation and passion for aeronautics.

To safeguard this technology leadership position and to ensure its global competitiveness, Airbus relies on its ability to innovate and build the world’s most efficient aircraft. Today, Airbus 2020 sets the path for a huge R&T programme over the next 20 years, which will ensure that innovation remains at the heart of Airbus development.

Airbus’ vision for 2020 is to be a top-performing enterprise building the world’s best aircraft to its customers.