Airbus nears final assembly of first A350F

Airbus is nearing final assembly of its first A350F after completing modifications to eight stations at its Toulouse facility in October. Construction of the first large parts for the freighter is nearly finished at the Airbus Atlantic and Airbus Aerostructures facilities in France and Germany, according to a release from Airbus last week. [caption id="attachment_57146894" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Airbus aims to delivery the first A350F in 2026. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] An Airbus Beluga will fly the assemblies to the A350 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, where final assembly will take place, Airbus previously told Cargo Facts . Modifications to FAL stations Macomb, Mich.-based Ascent Aerospace completed modifications to the eight retrofitted stations in less than eighteen months. Major differences between the A350F and the passenger A350-900 and -1000, including the large cargo door, Ancra cargo-loading system (CLS) and the freighter’s length, prompted the manufacturer to adapt jigs and tools in the Roger Beteille A350 Family FAL, which produces the -900 and -1000 versions. Airbus told Cargo Facts in December 2022 that it had implemented a design change before manufacturing to give the A350F the largest cargo door of any widebody freighter. The new design necessitated station modifications. An adaptable platform was installed at Station 50, allowing workers to operate the freighter’s maindeck cargo door and access the fuselage for systems installation, according to Airbus. [caption id="attachment_57146892" align="aligncenter" width="900"] A new platform plug is tested at Station 40. (Courtesy/Airbus)[/caption] A new platform plug will be used for freighter assembly at Station 40. It features a dedicated lift to bring the CLS and cargo lining trolleys as close as possible to the maindeck entrance before workers integrate the CLS components onto the floor grid. Airbus completes A350 wing join-up and interior equipment installation at Station 40. A new maindeck cargo door platform plug at Station 30 allows workers access through the freighter door. The modification also enables rigging and check of the complete door surround. It will allow workers to walk on top of the fuselage skin, above the door hinge. That jig is approximately 14 meters high, making it the highest structure at the A350 FAL. [caption id="attachment_57146891" align="aligncenter" width="900"] A new platform main deck cargo door plug enables rigging and check of the complete door surround at Station 30. (Courtesy/Airbus)[/caption] A350F orders Airbus planned to start final assembly of the prototype by mid-2024, but pushed back assembly to 2025. The manufacturer aims to deliver its first A350F in 2026. Eleven customers had ordered fifty-five A350Fs as of Oct. 31. Starlux Airlines ordered five in February and is the only carrier to order A350Fs in 2024 as of Oct. 31. Airbus received orders for fifteen A350Fs in 2023, according to its December 2023 orders and deliveries report: Four for an undisclosed customer later identified as CMA CGM ; Six for Cathay Pacific ; and Five for Turkish Airlines . Airbus also received orders for twenty-four A350Fs in 2022, according to its December 2022 orders and deliveries report: Seven for Singapore Airlines ; Four for Air France ; Seven for Etihad Airways ; Two for Silk Way West Airlines ; and Four for an undisclosed client that was later revealed to be Martinair . And the manufacturer received orders for eleven A350Fs in 2021 — four for CMA CGM and seven for Air Lease Corp. Register now for Cargo Facts' essential regional events for industry stakeholders: Cargo Facts LATAM 2025 on Feb. 10-11 at the Pullman Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport in Brazil; Cargo Facts Asia 2025 on March 24-26 at the W Shanghai in China; and Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

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