“Getting Ready for a Big Test Flight: A321XLR Passenger Experience”

After successfully testing the Airbus A321XLR on various routes, It’s now getting ready for a crucial step: the Passenger Experience Flight. This special flight is an important part of the process to make sure the Airbus plane is certified and ready for airlines to use.

Airbus A321XLR jet takes off for the first time from Hamburg(Opens in a new browser tab)

During this flight, Airbus uses sustainable aviation fuel, which is better for the environment, and they have about 200 employees on board. These employees have been working on the A321XLR in different countries like France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. The goal of this flight is to see how comfortable the plane is and how well all the systems in the cabin work.

Airbus wants its passengers to feel good when they fly, so they will ask them questions about what they see in the cabin, how warm or cool it is, how loud or quiet it is, and how different cabin systems like air conditioning, lighting, and bathrooms are working. This helps them make sure their plane is top-notch for travelers.

About A321XLR Range

The A321XLR’s ability to fly extra long distances begins with the improvements made to the A321neo. These improvements include better engines and aerodynamics. With a higher Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) and more fuel storage, the A321XLR can fly as far as 4,700 nautical miles. This means it can travel really long distances without needing to refuel.

The first 13-hour test flight of the A321XLR was successfully accomplished.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The A321XLR is a great choice for airlines because it offers significant economic benefits. One big advantage is that it saves a lot of fuel. In fact, it burns up to 30% less fuel per seat compared to older aircraft models. This means airlines can save money on fuel costs when they use the A321XLR.

A321XLR seat comforts

The A321XLR has won awards for its comfortable Airspace interior. It brings the kind of comfort you usually find on big, long-distance planes to this smaller one. You can have a single-class setup with up to 244 passengers, and in Economy class, the seats are 18 inches wide, which is quite spacious.

But that’s not all. The A321XLR can also be set up for premium classes. It can have seats that recline completely flat, almost like a bed, and it even offers suites for those who want extra luxury and privacy. So, whether you’re flying Economy or a premium class, the A321XLR has something comfortable to offer.

Understanding Route Proving in Aircraft Certification

Route proving, also known as Functional and Reliability Testing (FnR), is a standard process in aviation. It’s like a big test for new commercial airplanes before they can be certified for use in Europe by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency).

The main goal of route proving is to show that the airplane’s systems work well in real-life situations. This is called ‘systems maturity.’ To prove this, the plane has to fly for about 100 hours over ten days without turning off any of its systems. This test helps make sure the airplane is safe and reliable for passengers and airlines to use.

Flight testing scope overall rationale

Philippe Pupin, who leads the flight test engineering team for the A321XLR program and was part of the crew on the first flight of MSN11000 in June 2022, explains why they are conducting flight tests:

“To make the A321XLR fly long distances, we need to make it carry more fuel. This means we have to make the A321’s maximum take-off weight higher. To do that, we need stronger landing gear and better brakes. But, we’re not changing the engine’s power, so we’ve had to make some changes to the way the plane flies to keep it taking off smoothly. This has led to changes in how the plane’s high-lift system works, like the slats and flaps, and also changes to how the flight control system operates. All of these changes need to be tested during flight and approved for safety.”