Aviation

How does storing fuel in the wings help during long-haul flights?

Most aircraft store their fuel in the wings, a method known as using integral fuel tanks. These are sections of the aircraft structure that are sealed to allow for fuel storage.

A common example is the “wet wing,” which is typically found in larger aircraft. Since these tanks are part of the aircraft’s structure, they cannot be removed for service or inspection.

Instead, inspection panels are provided for internal inspection, repair, and servicing of the tank. Large transport aircraft often use this system to store fuel in the wings, fuselage, and empennage.a321 fuel burn per hour

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On some long-haul flights, fuel can make up to one-third of the aircraft’s total weight. Storing this heavy weight in the main body of the aircraft would leave insufficient room for luggage and negatively impact the aircraft’s structure. Therefore, fuel is stored in the wings.

By storing fuel in the rear of the plane could cause the front part to lift during flight due to the excess weight. As fuel is consumed, most fuel efficient commercial aircraft the front part would lean forward during landing.

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To avoid this issue, fuel is stored in the wings, which reduces pressure on them during flight and evenly distributes the load across the entire airframe.

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.

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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.

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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.