Thales technologies onboard the A350 XWB

In the A350 XWB, Airbus brings together the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide a 25 per cent step-change in fuel efficiency. The A350 XWB Family provides long-range capability with seating capacities from 250 to 400-plus the family consists of three versions (the A350-800, -900 and 1000) each with a global reach for flight distances of up to 8,500 naut. miles. In a typical three-class configuration, the A350-800 will accommodate 270 passengers, while the A350-900 and the A350-1000 will seat 314 and 350 passengers, respectively. All A350 XWB Family members can be configured for higher density layouts of up to 440 seats. To date, 36 worldwide airlines have ordered 574 units of the A350 XWB and a number of key milestones are already on the horizon.

Thales is a long-standing Airbus partner, and is scaling new heights with the A350 XWB in 2008 the company was selected for a scope of systems and equipment previously unseen on any other aircraft and rendering Thales the most significant supplier on the programme after the engine manufacturer. Most of those systems and equipment have now passed the Lab Unit Acceptance Reviews and have begun an intensive test campaign on Airbus test benches and simulators. The next steps will be the delivery of the units for the first aircraft on the Airbus Final Assembly Line along with the necessary tests to grant the first flight clearance. Thales has been working closely with Airbus on the design and development stages of the cockpit systems since the launch of the programme in 2004. As a supplier of key transversal functions within Airbuss New Systems Policy, Thales has designed
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its avionics solutions to take into consideration the future operational needs of the overall air transport system significant increase in air traffic, changing environmental requirements and increasing passenger demands. Innovation for the pilot Innovation in the Cockpit With the arrival of the A350 XWB, the most visible change in the cockpit is the move to even larger display screens, which will enable optimized information management and improved situational awareness. The A350 XWB will feature fewer but larger displays than the A380. Thales will be supplying six 15in (38cm) rectangular screens and two Keyboard and Cursor Control Units (KCCU) a feature unique to Airbus for crew interactivity. The A350 XWB cockpit configuration has two central displays mounted one above the other, one display in front of each pilot and a second one adjacent to it. The A350 XWB boasts an integrated system bringing together the so-called open world and secure avionics information, enabling the optimized management of information to allow the pilots to work efficiently together. For instance, they can bring information from the lateral screens to the central ones to allow them to work together on a particular piece of information. Another advantage of having an integrated Control and Display System means that the pilot can use the KCCU to interface with the On-board Information System (OIS) displays, covering outside and open information relating to maps, aircraft manuals, performance computations and calculations etc. With the A350 XWB, if one of the four center display units fails, automatic reconfiguration takes place to use the lateral displays. The fact that all six screens can be used for all information within the cockpit is an important factor for airlines, as it will help to maintain high aircraft dispatch levels. The new cockpit display system achieves simplified and streamlined interactivity with the entire system. Overall, the A350 XWB cockpit has been designed as a natural evolution of the A380 cockpit, with the aim of ensuring continuity throughout the Airbus range (Cross Crew Qualification CCQ). An A380 pilot will need just minimal amounts of training to be able to transfer to the new layout and functions of the A350 XWB. This will result in a reduction in training costs and optimized use of airline resources. Furthermore, the large screens have future-proof product evolution characteristics and provide the potential in the future for new concepts of displays for future generations of Airbus aircraft.

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IMA: an airborne network Thaless Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) solution represents a real-time airborne computer network system. This network consists of a number of computing modules capable of supporting numerous applications of differing criticality levels and provided by different Function Suppliers. The IMA is a major technical evolution of global importance for airlines and operators. The A350 XWB is breaking new ground as, compared with the solution for the A380, the IMA features even less part numbers leading to significant gains in direct maintenance costs as communication between the different systems is optimised. The principles of standardisation and the multiple use of function units are applied by combining computing as well as input and output functions in standardised computer platforms. Using new technologies, Thales and Diehl Aerospace have standardised the CPIOMs (Core Processing Inputs/Outputs Module) and CRDCs (Common Remote Data Concentrator) both of which are the main building blocks of the IMA suite meaning that the number of different part numbers at platform level is divided by two, and that components are easier to maintain, repair and stock. The number of functions hosted by the CPIOM has been increased by more than 50% compared to the A380. For instance, the doors and slides control function that was previously handled by a specific computer is now hosted by the standard CPIOM. On top of that, the processing power of the CPIOM has been doubled, its reliability increased and weight reduced. The result is a substantial improvement maintainability, volume, weight and scalability. Innovation and Navigation ADIRU The arrival of the A350 XWB will also see the introduction of a new Thales navigation system. The ADIRU (Air Data and Inertial Reference Unit) defines the position of the aircraft with high precision and accuracy. It consolidates all the primary parameters of the aircraft (altitude, attitude, speed and air data) and calculates the position of the aircraft. It integrates inertial sensors: a PIXYZ gyro laser (a single component measuring the three axes) and three MICAL NG pendular accelerometers (MICro AcceLerometer New Generation). The ADIRU will also provide airlines with RNP 0.1 navigation accuracy in accordance with the most stringent standard for air navigation systems, and brings a host of benefits to the A350 XWB, including an environmentally friendly aircraft, capable of making approaches on difficult terrain and operating easily in zones with high-density air traffic. It also offers enhanced ground location performance, thereby boosting airport navigation capability. in computing power, reliability,

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For Thales, the ADIRU represents a major strategic milestone it is the first time the company has been selected for the development of inertial equipment for a commercial aeronautics application, this area having previously been dominated by US players. Flight tests of the ADIRU will continue this Summer onboard an A380, ahead of first tests on the A350 XWB. Onboard Airport Navigation System (OANS) Thales provided the worlds first OANS within the A380 cockpit, providing crewmembers with improved situational awareness on airport surface manoeuvres. OANS allows the flight crew to more efficiently navigate at airports, which have become increasingly congested. The OANS draws on an Airport Mapping Database (AMDB) to dynamically display the aircraft position on high-resolution geo-referenced airport maps. This information is presented to pilots via a large format liquid crystal display (Navigation Display). On ground, the function displays high-resolution airport moving maps that depict the aircrafts position in relation to airport surface features for taxiing operations from and to the gate. The system and database are designed with commonality for Airbus aircraft, first deployed on the A380, and then on A330/A340, A320 families, and now for the future A350 XWB, for which the function has been totally integrated in the Integrated Wide Display Units (IWDU). New and innovative head-up display Thales has customized its successful head-up display (HUD) design for easy installation on Airbuss new A350 XWB, as well as to allow for even further weight and power savings onboard the aircraft. The basic function of the HUD which will be available as an option in dual-configuration onboard the A350 XWB is to superimpose flight information onto the pilots external view, improving situational awareness and overall safety. The integration of the HUD and OANS into the Display Global Work Package, with software hosted directly in the displays, has meant that the associated calculator is no longer required and more space will be freed up. This will reduce the systems weight by 15kg and its electrical consumption by 150W. The newly streamlined system is also likely to reduce the need for maintenance, which could contribute to lowering operational costs. Electrical Power Conversion System (EPCS) Thales has also been selected to supply the electrical power conversion systems aboard the A350 XWB. The system, set to be fitted aboard the aircraft, comprises a set of equipments using new technologies that will convert the electricity provided by
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different sources into the appropriate standard voltage required by various applications. Its electrical network will include several electrical standards ranging from direct current (DC) to variable frequency alternating current (AC). Thales is present on earlier Airbus aircraft such as the A380 and the A400M with equipment such as Advanced Electrical Generation Systems, however this is the first time that Airbus has selected Thaless Power Conversion System technology.

Innovation for the Passenger Innovation and In-flight Entertainment Airbus confirmed in May this year that it had selected the Thales TopSeries Next Generation system, now called TopSeries AVANT, for the A350 XWB. TopSeries AVANT is a revolutionary new system that combines the strengths of earlier generation systems with advanced technologies such as high definition video, solid state hard drives, and faster processors to create a passenger experience that is a genuine revelation. TopSeries AVANT is characterised by that fact that every aspect of the system is smaller, more energy efficient and seat-centric. Thales has moved processing power and intelligence into the seat itself, allowing the complete removal of seat electronics boxes, which has helped reduce the overall system weight by nearly 50 per cent. Within its next generation system, Thales has introduced capacitive touch screens to offer the kind of sensitivity and responsiveness that can be experienced on an iPod or Android. The company has also introduced USB ports and 9-pin connectors so that passengers can plug in their own devices an extremely important function given the prevalence of personal devices today. Thales is opening an App Portal that embraces the growing number of Android based applications making it easier for airlines to review and select capabilities already tested and integrated to the new system. Innovation in programme management The A350 XWB also represents a new method of working between airframer and supplier. Airbus, aiming for efficiency across the life-cycle of the programme has adopted the New Systems Policy, which draws upon the concept of a smaller number of Tier 1 partners with the competencies required in programme management, complex systems, complex supply chains and an innovative product and functions offering. It is based on three main pillars:

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Earlier : Suppliers are integrated into the design process much earlier bringing all their expertise in the preliminary phases of the aircraft design Wider : suppliers are selected on wider packages, being responsible for preintegration of equipment and systems within their packages Together : suppliers become partners throughout the development phase creating a highly collaborative environment of common tools, methods and processes

Advanced simulation and prototyping tools Thales used a demonstrator called i-deck to fine-tune various aspects of the A350 XWB cockpit configuration. i-deck is a demonstrator and a prototyper for a full cockpit, developed by Thales in order to design, validate and test new cockpits. It allows all parties from airframer to airline and pilot to be seated in an environment which is as close to reality as possible in order to pre-test and green-light different functions such as the management of large displays and the optimisation of information. This is possible thanks to a back office made up of 3 main activity layers: cockpit design, scade display (embedded graphics design environment dedicated to safety-critical display systems) and a look-and-feel final layer. i-deck was a key part of the development of the A350 XWB cockpit it offered the possibility to determine quickly the feasibility of new configurations, analyse alternatives to existing solutions and evaluate the impact on prices and delivery schedules.

Press Contact: Natasha Harvey Tel : 01 34 81 40 50 natasha.Harvey@fr.thalesgroup.com

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