Passengers comfort comes first for us
The primitive goal of Airbus is by using innovative technologies to provide the most enjoyable flight services aloft.Therefore the high level of comfort is provided through a wide range of technological advancements, including environmental control systems, ambient lighting, in-flight entertainment and more. Innovations are divided into to major categories: improvements inside of the cabin and outside of the cabin.
Innovations inside of the cabin
Passenger comfort is a major design consideration for Airbus, which is why the company’s product line of jetliners – from its best-selling single-aisle A320 Family to the 21st century flagship A380 and A350 XWB new generation aircraft – have built a reputation for offering the most enjoyable experiences aloft today.
Airbus cabins are designed to offer passengers and airlines the highest levels of comfort, services and efficiency. Passenger comfort has always been a major design consideration at Airbus in order to ensure the best possible passenger experience across all its aircraft families.Not only are Airbus cabins innovative and attractive, they are continuously being improved to offer travellers the quietest, most comfortable and enjoyable journeys. In addition, Airbus has always championed passenger comfort with wider cross-sections for wider seats – particularly in economy class.
Seat width is one of the most important – yet often overlooked – factors for passenger comfort. With an extra inch, compared to the 17-inch industry norm set in the 1950s that is still used by other aircraft manufacturers, Airbus jetliners offers travelers more personal space and room for lateral movement.
Airbus aircraft deliver this level of comfort without compromising operating economics. Research shows an extra inch of seat width is equivalent to an extra two inches of pitch, in terms of passenger comfort. This allows airlines to provide superior comfort with 18-inch seats, while adding another row in economy class – increasing revenues and improving fuel costs per seat.
To respond to the growing market demand for on-board connectivity, Airbus has developed an aircraft connectivity “platform” that delivers the full breadth of new connectivity services and that is a generation beyond any other available system.Since winter 2010, Airbus operators have been able to offer worldwide broadband connectivity services via internet and mobile telephony. The Airbus platform, called Airline Network Architecture (ALNA), is the first connectivity solution available as line fit on Airbus aircraft and can be retrofitted to Airbus and other manufacturers’ aircraft. Thanks to this, passengers can use their own wireless communication devices such as mobile telephones, smart phones, tablet or laptops to send and receive SMS messages, e-mails with their attachments, access the internet or make and receive phone calls. Both WiFi and mobile telephony services are praised by passengers especially when travelling for business purposes.
Outside of the cabin
To improve the environmental footprint of its families of efficient jetliners, Airbus is continuously working in key areas for innovation such as product technology enhancements, sustainable aviation fuels for aviation and Air Traffic Management (ATM).
As a result, Airbus has contributed significantly to the aviation industry’s improved eco-efficiency over the past several decades. In 1985, the average aircraft fleet consumed eight litres per passenger per 100 kilometres; today it is less than five litres, with an anticipated drop to three litres in 15-20 years.
Airbus is committed to ensuring that air travel continues to be one of the safest and most eco-efficient means of transportation. Environmental, health and safety considerations have long been an integral part of its activities at all levels of the company, and are a key priority in the development of all new techniques, products and processes.
Since the 1970s, aircraft fuel burn and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 70 per cent and noise by 75 per cent – however, the industry is determined to further improve its environmental performance and constantly is seeking new ways to reduce emissions and fuel burn.
Airbus’ extensive efforts to reduce aircraft noise are underscored by its efficient jetliner families – which are the quietest in the sky, ensuring operational freedom at airports with noise restrictions.Developments in this area include the Automatic Noise Abatement Departure Procedure (NADP), which optimizes the thrust and flight path to reduce noise over populated areas.
Airbus has developed a road map working towards making sustainable aviation fuels a reality for aviation use. As part of this continued effort, the company is actively engaged in the implementation and testing of sustainable sustainable aviation fuels derived from biomass, and strongly supports the installation of local sustainable aviation fuel value-chains around the world. In addition, Airbus is researching a number of additional promising technologies, including electric propulsion and fuel cells.
For wider initiatives, such as Air Traffic Management (ATM), Airbus even co-operates with its competitors to deliver the best solutions for airlines and the environment. Airbus has a leading role in the SESAR project to improve the efficiency of European ATM and works with teams involved in the NEXT GEN project designed to do the same for U.S. ATM.
In addition, the company was selected to provide Air Traffic Management and Performance-Based Navigation expertise for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Greener Skies Initiative. As part of this effort, Airbus will identify procedures which fully utilize aircraft precision navigation capabilities to reduce fuel burn, lower emissions and decrease noise.
Perfect Flight
By combining state-of-the-art technologies in a single revenue flight, Airbus has demonstrated that CO2 emissions can be reduced by more than 40 per cent in a “perfect flight” compared to a similar regular flight.
Airbus and Air France completed the world’s first “Perfect Flight” in October 2011 by putting into practice multiple elements of the Airbus environmental roadmap – including the use of sustainable aviation fuels, optimised ATM and lighter cabin. The Toulouse-Paris flight was performed by an Airbus A321, and as a result, the aircraft emitted half the CO2 of a regular flight.
The first North American “Perfect Flight” took place during June 2012 in a joint effort between Airbus and Air Canada. This activity utilised an A319 flying from Toronto to Mexico City, with the aircraft powered by a 50 per cent sustainable aviation fuel blend made with used cooking oil. Further enhancing this flight’s eco-efficiency were streamlined ATM procedures, use of Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) into the destination area, single-engine taxiing on the ground and external cleaning for improved aerodynamics. In August 2013, Airbus and Air Canada received aeronautical publication Air Transport World’s Eco-partnership Award in honor of their successful “Perfect Flight” collaboration.
No comments:
Post a Comment