Aviation

Plane and helicopter collide mid-air in Buckinghamshire : Breaking News

According to metro news Seven fire crews have rushed to the scene following the crash, which occurred in Waddesdon.

After the mid-air collision, the wreck of each aircraft plunged from the sky and crashed into the grounds of Waddesdon Manor. Staff at Waddeson Manor were reportedly directing emergency services to the scene of the collision. Police, who were called at 12.06pm, erected a corden around the immediate area. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police, who were called to the incident shortly after midday, said: ‘Officers are currently at the scene of an air accident near the village of Waddesdon near Aylesbury.

Bucks and MK Fire service said: ‘Firefighters currently assisting other emergency services at scene of air accident near Waddesdon.

Air Accidents Investigation Branch informed. ‘Disruption to road network around Waddesdon likely for the rest of the day.’ The Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed that emergency services are at the scene of a mid-air collision involving an aircraft and a helicopter near Aylesbury.

Firefighters currently assisting other emergency services at scene of air accident near Waddesdon. Air Accidents Investigation Branch informed. Disruption to road network around Waddesdon likely for the rest of the day

— Bucks and MK Fire (@Bucksfire) November 17, 2017

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.