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Approved: American Airlines captain becomes the first FAA-certified A350 XWB pilot
It was all smiles for American Airlines’ John Dudley, as he became the first airline pilot certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Airbus’ all-new A350 XWB jetliner. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for eight years,” Dudley said at the Airbus training centre in Toulouse, France. “Being an A350 XWB captain is a dream come true, and being the first airline captain to receive FAA Type Rating for the aircraft is a special honour.” (www.airbus.com) Ещё...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Well reasoned comment based in fact, not blind faith. Consumers always win where there is competition in the marketplace.
As far as comparing FBW to Xbox, well, that's easily said by not truly understanding transport jet aerodynamics or how envelope protections improve safety, which is why both the B787 and A350 feature variants of the technology. There's nothing lost by making flying easier, less fatiguing, and more reliable, in a word – safer.
Thoughtful and well said!!
Well said, as several people have already noted.There is a huge lack of understanding as to the complexity of the supply chain and sourcing of components. I am lucky to have some appreciation of this as (when I worked) I worked for Caterpillar who is perhaps an equally global company with similar challenges. We even made some FBW (or Drive by wire) products.
Adding my voice of thanks for a reasoned response.
I'm kinda on your "side" I think....about the aspect of basic piloting skills. I WILL state that Airbus products seem to appeal to the lesser pilot...the ones who aren't as well-trained. JUST my opinion. Seems Airbus engineers want to design a product that is "Human-Proof"....and sometimes, they fail. Here is an interesting YouTube video, I hope you will enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up3m9etzz8k
(THERE are lots and lots of these sorts of videos online. To those of us, LIKE you who are professional airline pilots? THESE people do not understand the MANY other demands that come into our realm of thinking. Almost EVERY flight has its own challenges. Some are "routine"...but there is always a chance of something going wrong....AND that is why we remain vigilant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up3m9etzz8k
(THERE are lots and lots of these sorts of videos online. To those of us, LIKE you who are professional airline pilots? THESE people do not understand the MANY other demands that come into our realm of thinking. Almost EVERY flight has its own challenges. Some are "routine"...but there is always a chance of something going wrong....AND that is why we remain vigilant.
To those who imagine American or Delta unpatriotic in their economic selection of the A350XWB, no doubt from the same crowd who'd embellish the nuanced differences between market capitalism and social democracy, would you prefer that American purchased only Boeing products absent any genuine competition and reflect that in consumer prices? Would American's domestic customers benefit from British Airways or Lufthansa purchasing only Airbus aircraft uncompetitively? And what should Japan Airlines, longtime Boeing customer but obligated to tender competitively, do to facilitate the desired trade war? Or state-owned, Chinese airlines, in the world's largest and fastest growing aviation market, equally comfortable with Airbus and Boeing technology and boasting an Airbus assembly facility?
To the aircraft itself, what is it about Airbus technology that engenders a nationalistic response? Is it the fly-by-wire (FBW) technology and flight envelope protections, essentially similar to the Boeing 777 FBW computer suite (having flown both), or the even greater reliance on such systems aboard the B787?
If nationalism rather than cost, performance or equivalent safety is how an aircraft should be judged, what about the A350's Honeywell APU? The Hamilton RAT? Perhaps the UTC Aerospace nacelles and thrust reversers on its Trent engines. You may that know that many 'American' GE and P&W engines sit on European operated Boeing and Airbus jets just as many 'European' Trent engines sit on American operated Boeing and Airbus jets. Of course, engine design is such a capital intensive proposition that most projects are now international collaborations, such as the oh-so-American Boeing 737's CFM56 engines (also on the Airbus 320) and the IAE V2500 series. Should these American jobs never have existed? What of the American A320 assembly line? Or the truly global chain of the A350XWB as much so as for the B787?
It's true the odd nationalistic stitch-up can be arranged, like the multiple tenders for the US DOD's tanker requirement until the protectionist result is found (voicing dissatisfaction should foreign governments do likewise, of course). True, hardly unique.
The reason American Airlines, Delta and United each operate both Airbus and Boeing jets is the same reason that British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France do. They both make great jets, and are both a delight to fly.
I've just left the B777 to again fly my outfit's A320s, and I'd equally operate our B787s or A350s as my next posting after my tour as A320 captain, as much as I loved the B777. I equally fondly remember my regional flying days on Embraer jets, and even turboprops from both sides of the Atlantic, while still doing 'real' flying as a light aircraft flight instructor. Frankly, most people who have a blanket aversion to Airbus generally either haven't flown them (especially the general aviator, armchair experts) or don't understand the design philosophies, and would be surprised to find out what's inside a B787. As with Eurofighter Typhoon or F-22, the days of less-reliable cables and pulleys, in both military and civilian jets, are behind us.
The competition between them will benefit passengers around the world. Both programs will create good American, European, Japanese, Australian and Chinese jobs, in a global supply chain. Congrats to the first FAA type rated pilot. I'm sure American and Delta will find the A350XWB as much of a delight as BA and Norwegian love the B787, Trumpians be damned.