Business

Honeywell Awarded Major A350XWB Contract

posted: 19 September 2007 02:57 pm ET

: U.S. company Honeywell has won a contract worth up to $16 billion to supply the auxiliary power unit and cabin environmental management systems for the A350 XWB twin-engined widebody jetliner, Airbus' planned competitor to the Boeing 787. TAP Portugal was an early customer for the A350XWB. Customers have now ordered and given commitments for 254 A350XWBs. Credit: Airbus S.A.S. 2006/computer rendering by Fixion - HCSGM

Airbus has selected Honeywell to provide the major mechanical systems for its new long-range, widebody A350XWB jetliner.

Honeywell expects the contract to generate more than $16 billion in revenues for it over the projected 20-to-25-year life of the A350 program. The Phoenix, Ariz.-based company's revenue projection includes aftermarket sales. It is the largest systems and equipment contract Airbus has awarded to date for the A350XWB program.

As part of the agreement, Honeywell will design and build an auxiliary power unit (APU) and provide the APU installation kit and APU starter-generator. These integrated systems supply pneumatic and electric power for the aircraft while on the ground or in flight.

Honeywell's HGT1700 APU for the A350XWB will incorporate proven technologies from Honeywell's fleet of Airbus APUs, optimized with technological advancements to reduce weight, maximize performance and reduce direct maintenance.

The company will also provide integrated systems to manage all of the air used on the A350XWB for environmental control, including cabin heating and cooling, and cabin pressurization for increased passenger comfort and safety.

Honeywell's air management aystem, specifically designed for the Airbus A350, builds on more than 50 years of experience in providing integrated aircraft systems. Honeywell is a leading supplier of environmental and cabin pressure control systems for airliners and its systems have accumulated millions of flight hours of commercial service.

"This first contract signed with a major equipment supplier for the A350 is the first concrete example of our new way of working with our suppliers who are now becoming real partners," said Tom Williams, Airbus' executive vice president for programmes and procurement.

"With the A350 we are initiating a different type of relationship with this community. We attribute larger, complete work packages to a smaller number of major suppliers who are now becoming real systems integrators, which should allow them to define a globally much more efficient system," he added.

"They are fully responsible for the total process from the initial research and development up to manufacturing/production and integration of the complete element, which they deliver, once fully checked and tested to maturity, to the Airbus production line," said Williams.

"We are convinced that, by starting the process very early and fully involving these suppliers as partners in the process, we shall be in a much better position to achieve an even higher maturity at entry into service."

The A350XWB family is Airbus' response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient, medium-capacity, long-range widebody aircraft, which has grown feverishly since Boeing launched the 787 Dreamliner. (Airbus has given the A350 the designation "XWB" to suggest that the aircraft will have an "eXtra Wide Body," compared with the competitor Boeing aircraft.)

With a range of up to 8,300 nautical miles (15,400 kilometers), the A350XWB is available in three basic passenger versions: the A350-800 accommodating 270 passengers, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 for 350 passengers.

Airbus' planned new jetliner is powered by new generation Rolls Royce Trent engines delivering up to 95,000 pounds of thrust. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category. Each version of the A350XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns. Total firm orders for the A350XWB stand at 154 aircraft and Airbus has received customer commitments for another 100.