Aviation

VSR700 tested at sea in full operational configuration

The VSR700 unmanned aerial system (UAS) was tested from a ship at sea for the first time in an operational form by Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). Beginning in the month of May, the VSR700 completed 80 totally autonomous takeoffs and landings from a civil ship with a helicopter deck while it was cruising off the Brittany coast in the west of France.

Korean Air partners with Airbus Helicopters on vertical unmanned aerial systems(Opens in a new browser tab)

A crucial feature of the VSR700 is its autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities, which are made possible by the Airbus DeckFinder system. This makes it possible for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to autonomously launch and recover with an accuracy of 10–20 cm during difficult operations under adverse climatic circumstances, independent of GNSS/GPS and regardless of degraded visual conditions.

This new test campaign comes after two sets of trials with the DGA that were carried out in late 2022 and early 2023 at the Levant Island test facility in the south of France. The SDAM prototype proved its use in a maritime setting during these experiments. A marine surveillance radar, an electro-optical sensor, and an AIS receiver together with the mission system created by Naval Group were evaluated along with the aircraft’s handling characteristics.

Amazon established transport fleet in India(Opens in a new browser tab)

Prior to flight testing on board a French Navy FREMM during the second semester of this year, the second VSR700 prototype will make its first flight as part of the following development steps.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.