As Airbus’ longest-fuselage A350 XWB version – the A350-1000 – continues to be put through its paces during flight trials, the jetliner’s cabin has undergone ground-based testing to validate the operation of systems for the comfort and well-being of passengers. The A350-1000 is Airbus’ latest member of its A350 XWB family, with deliveries of this version to begin in the second half of 2017.
A cabin simulator in Hamburg, Germany was used for these tests, which incorporated environmental control, in-flight entertainment and cabin intercommunication data systems. The cabin was connected to test rigs for these various systems to make sure they worked well together functionally as well as provided necessary information to enhance maturity.
Planning involved a close alliance with the Design Office to determine which tests and data were needed. The project team assembled and connected all necessary test rigs and worked to match them.
“This was a big project,” stated Thomas Bronn of the Flight Tests and Integration Centre at Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “We built it up day after day until we had a complete, fully representative testing profile.”
