Posted: Fri 3rd Mar 2017

Updated: Wed 13th Feb

Airbus A350 extreme cold weather testing…Northern lights and -37ºC temperatures.

Airbus A350 extreme cold weather testing…Northern lights and -37ºC temperatures.
This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 3rd, 2017

The latest member of Airbus’ all-new A350 XWB widebody family has undergone rigorous ground and flight tests in the extreme operating conditions of Iqaluit, Canada – which provided a picturesque backdrop accentuated by the Northern Lights.

Iqaluit, a Canadian territory with a polar climate caused by the Labrador Current, allows Airbus’ longest-fuselage A350-1000 version to face-off against one of the most challenging environments for an aircraft.

The jetliner successfully completed five days of intensive testing at an outside air temperature (OAT) that fluctuated between -28 degrees and -37 degrees Celsius.

Emanuele Costanzo, Flight Test Engineer at Airbus, said of the results:

The A350-1000 has responded successfully to the ground and flight tests performed in the freezing temperatures of Iqaluit – which demonstrates the already proven maturity and reliability of the A350 XWB.

All three A350-1000 flight test aircraft have been engaged in the type certification campaign.

These latest tests come three years after the A350-1000’s sister – the A350-900 – successfully overcame the uniquely challenging environment in Iqaluit, Canada.

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