JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #96 - April 2015 - 4

point of view: composites integration

Airbus:
Materials as winning factor

interview

To maintain its position as a global leader, Airbus is committed to
cultivating a culture of innovation. Chantal Fualdes, Expert in composites Materials for Airbus explains us how the aeronautical group
rises to the challenge of reducing weight and CO2 emissions.

Chantal Fualdes,
head oF airFrame CertiFiCation,
exeCutive expert Composite

Airbus

Chantal Fualdes :

Airbus has accumulated a wide
experience over many years
with composites, applying a
step-by-step approach. Each
step has resulted in the necessary knowledge to progress
further, without the need for
a huge leap. This approach has
enabled the gradual increase
from 5% of composites on the
A310-300 achieved in 1985, up
to the 53% of composite on the
A350 XWB today. The intermediate steps were as follows: 10%
composites by weight on A320

Family; 11% on A330/A340
Family; 25% on A380; and 35%
on A400M.
Evolution summary:
- 5% A310-300
- 10% A320
- 11% A330/A340
- 25% A380
- 35% A400M
- 53% A350 XWB
Still, Airbus in not doing a race
for the most composite quantity,
but Airbus designs a product
policy to improve Aircraft overall performance and operability.
The driver is always the airlines'
needs.
JCM: Could you, with a few
key figures, give an indication

About Airbus

regarding the general influence
of composite materials in Airbus
Group's aeronautical activity? Is
there a notable difference in how
much composite materials are
used depending on whether it's
for civil or military use?

C.F. : In terms of annual

JEC Composites Magazine:
Do you believe that the global
quantity of composite materials
is going to increase in the next
few programs?

With the composite,
we have been challenged by the airlines
on several aspects

global quantity, the number is
difficult to define this year as
the monthly production rate on
A350 is not yet stabilized.
A350 is the one with the highest part of composite material,
but still few will be delivered
this year. For the latest A350,
the total composite material is
around 53%. Concerning the
recent military programme, the
A400M contains around 35% of
composite material.

in excess of 8,900 aircraft deliveries have been achieved,
leaving a healthy backlog of around 6,300 aircraft. Airbus is a global company, directly employing some 55,000
Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most
people of over 100 different nationalities in design and
modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the
manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and
market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500
Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the US, China, Japan,
seats. Spearheading the newly consolidated "Airbus
India and in the Middle East. Airbus also operates spare
Group", and headquartered in Toulouse, France, the
company consistently captures about half of all commer- parts and training centres in Europe, the US and Asia,
and provides round-the-clock support services to all
cial airliner orders. To date, Airbus has sold over 15,200
aircraft to more than 370 customers worldwide. Of these, Airbus operators.

4 jec composites magazine / No96 April 2015

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #96 - April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #96 - April 2015