airbus
The Miracle in the Hudson

“This is the Captain,” the captain’s voice said over the intercom, “Brace for impact!”. A hush fell over the passengers. They thought they were going to die as the flight attendants were screaming: “Brace! Brace! Brace! Heads down! Stay down!”
On January 15th of 2009; a US Airways flight 1549 from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, left the tarmac at 15:25 with 155 passengers on board an Airbus A320 led by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III who is a 57-year-old former Air Force fighter pilot and a 29-year veteran of US Airways, and the Copilot Jeff Skiles.

Sullenberger thought he was in for an average flight-a routine, everyday trip.
Everything was alright for the first 90 seconds after airborne until something caught the eye of the Copilot (“Jeff Skiles”) at 3,000 feet, he saw a flock of Canada geese headed toward the plane, he shouted: “Birds!!”; moments later the geese struck the fuselage, wings, and engines.

The passengers felt a powerful thud against the airplane, along with severe vibrations from the engines, and a loud explosion. The cabin was then filled up with smoke, a horrible smell came to be, and then an eerie quiet: both engines were disabled.
Sullenberger made the mayday radio call to the Air Traffic Control (ATC): “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, followed with the explanation of the situation but calmly”.
They discussed their options. It was either they return to LaGuardia or land at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, as it was the closest Airport to them.
But surprisingly Sullenberger decided on a radical move: He’d ditch the plane in the Hudson River!!
We all know that neither the Airbus A320 nor any other passengers plane is built to land on water!
“Brace for impact,” said Sullenberger through the intercom. Passengers thought they were going to die. Actually, anyone in this situation would think that. The flight attendants start yelling: “Brace! Brace! Brace! Heads down! Stay down!”.

Sullenberger lowered the plane’s nose in gradual glide toward the river. The plane managed to clear the George Washington Bridge and, against the odds, he landed safely on the surface of the Hudson. It skidded across the water at 145 mph and finally slowed to a stop!
He jumped out from his seat quickly and went out of the cockpit and shouted: “Evacuate the plane!”
His job was now to get all passengers out of the plane, which was quickly filling up with water.
Witnesses were convinced that everyone on this flight was dead. What they couldn’t see was that passengers were already exiting the plane.

With water seeping into the plane, Sullenberger and Skiles walked the length of the cabin twice, calling “Is anyone there?!”. The water was too cold, they had to walk on top of the seats. But they would not leave the plane until they were sure everyone was out.

“He’s the man,” said one of the rescued passengers. “If you want to talk to a hero, get a hold of him.”
“He was thinking in nanoseconds,” said a dormer airline pilot, speaking of Sullenberger. “He made all the right choices at all the right times. He might have been staring at the instrument, but he was feeling that airplane in his hands. He picked his landing spot and went for it”.
After all the thanking was over, Sullenberger was humble. “You’re welcome,” he said simply. Like most heroes, he didn’t want the label. According to him, he was just doing his job.

But 154 men, women, and children owed their lives to a modest man who faced adversity with cool competence on one of the most remarkable days in aviation history.

In 2016, a lot of people got to relive what happened when a movie was made about this incident called “Sully”. Tom Hanks was representing Sullenberger, the movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and it won several awards.
I recommend watching it if you didn’t do so yet!
airbus
Airbus Unveils New Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg

Airbus marked a significant step in its journey towards modernization and ramped-up production with the official opening of its new automated A321XLR equipping hangar in Hamburg. The inauguration was graced by Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher, and the German Aerospace Coordinator, Anna Christmann.

Stepping Up Production
Airbus aims to ramp up the production rate for the A320 program to 75 by 2026. This new hangar plays an integral part in achieving that goal, as it would house the production of A321 fuselages. André Walter, Head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft Production in Germany, said, “The design of the building reflects the latest standards in production and sustainability.”
Dr. Peter Tschentscher emphasized Hamburg’s prominence in Airbus’s scheme of things, calling it a central location for Airbus’ single-aisle development and production. The new A321XLR, described as the flagship of the A320 Family, will be assembled at the Finkenwerder site in Hamburg.
Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, pointed out that investing in the new hangar is a pivotal move towards achieving climate neutrality in aviation. With Airbus positioning itself as a pioneer in sustainable aviation, it sends a clear message about the future direction of the industry.
Hangar H259: A Peek Inside

The new hangar, labeled H259, spans 9,600 m^2 of production space. It is equipped with advanced technologies, including automated logistics, digital systems, and real-time test stations. Every fuselage section undergoes rigorous testing after system installation and then heads to the final assembly line in Hamburg.
Employee comfort and efficiency were prioritized while planning the hangar. Moreover, sustainability was also at the forefront, with a 3,000 m^2 photovoltaic system powering the hangar and the surplus electricity being used for the site. An automatic control system for heating, ventilation, and lighting, along with the office block’s superior insulation, underlines Airbus’s commitment to sustainability.
Spotlight on the A321XLR

The A321XLR is poised to be a game-changer. This evolution of the A320neo offers an impressive range of up to 4,700 nm, 15% more than its predecessor, the A321LR. The aircraft promises 30% lower fuel consumption per seat than older competitor models. Furthermore, the A321XLR offers enhanced passenger comfort, all while maintaining the low operational costs of a single-aisle aircraft. The A321XLR, with nearly 570 orders globally, is set to make its entry into service in 2024’s second quarter.
Read Also: AIRBUS A321XLR – Gamechanger in the World of Narrow Bodies
airbus
Final and Sixth Beluga XL Rolls Out at Airbus

Airbus has rolled out the sixth and last of its Beluga XL freighters at the production facility in Toulouse, France. Based on the A330-200 platform and boasting a special livery, this plane joins a quintet of similar aircraft assisting Airbus in meeting production schedules at its various plants across the globe.
The Final Super Transporter
The concluding Airbus Beluga XL, also known as the ‘super transporter,’ marks the end of a production run consisting of six airplanes. Unlike its five predecessors, each displaying a consistent livery barring their fleet numbers (1-5), the final aircraft showcases a modified external color scheme.
This latest addition features Airbus’ standard house tail colors, logo, and the ‘Airbus Beluga XL’ fuselage titles present on the other five planes. However, it also carries the additional text ‘Also flying outsize cargo to your destination’ and a unique ‘winking eye’ motif on the left side of the forward fuselage.

Currently, the sixth Beluga XL is preparing for its maiden flight, scheduled to occur within a few days. Its entry into service is expected in the latter half of 2023.
The Beluga XL: An Oversized Freight Carrier
Launched officially in November 2014, the Beluga XL program was initiated in response to Airbus’s evolving logistical transport needs. This new generation aircraft, derived from the Airbus A330-200 airliner platform, replaced the previous Beluga ST transporter, whose job was to ferry aircraft components between Airbus factories and assembly plants across Europe.

The Beluga XL had its first flight in July 2018 and entered service in February 2021 with Airbus Transport International (ATI), the logistics division of the European aerospace group.
Before the Beluga STs, Airbus relied on a fleet of four Super Guppies, a turboprop freighter developed by Boeing in the 1960s. However, their limited cargo capability led to their replacement by the Beluga ST, which now gives way to the Beluga XL fleet.
Unmatched Capabilities of the Beluga XL
Being seven meters longer and one meter wider than the Beluga ST, the Beluga XL can boast of a 30% increase in load capacity. Thanks to improved loading systems, the Beluga XL’s turnaround time is approximately one hour, nearly halving that of the Beluga ST.
One of the unique features of the Beluga XL is its large cargo door located above the flight deck, which allows easy loading of whole wings and large sections of fuselage into the enormous cargo compartment. According to Airbus, the Beluga XL can carry two completed wings of the A350 XWB, while the Beluga ST could only manage one.
Read more about the Beluga XL: Airbus Beluga: A Marvel of Engineering and Design
Joining a Busy Worldwide Fleet

Soon, the final Beluga XL will join the ATI fleet, operating between 11 European destinations, gradually replacing the five-member-strong Beluga ST fleet. However, the Beluga ST fleet isn’t retiring yet. They are being phased into another operational division of ATI – Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), launched in July 2022.
While AiBT initially focused on missions for other Airbus divisions, it plans to accommodate an increasing number of external commercial customers as the Beluga XLs take over the primary role of transporting commercial airplane components for Airbus. By February 2023, AiBT had already filled nearly 50% of its slots for the rest of the year, catering to many requests for outsized cargo transportation missions worldwide.
airbus
Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220: Latest-Generation Addition to Fleet

Bulgaria Air now proudly hosts the Airbus A220 in its fleet, marking an important step towards greener aviation. The A220’s attributes of operational flexibility, unrivaled comfort, and reduced emissions make it a sought-after choice for airlines working towards more efficient and sustainable aircraft operations. With the addition of Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220, passengers can now look forward to a state-of-the-art flight experience that has already been enjoyed by over 90 million travelers worldwide.

Bulgaria Air, the national airline of Bulgaria, has received its first A220 aircraft from Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada. The A220, which will be leased from Air Lease Corporation, will operate on regional and international routes throughout Europe. Bulgaria Air will lease a total of seven A220s from ALC.
The A220, Airbus’ latest-generation aircraft, will complement Bulgaria Air’s existing fleet of seven A320s. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 offers increased operational flexibility to airlines like Bulgaria Air.
The initial configuration of Bulgaria Air’s A220 will have a total of 143 seats in dual-class, including eight business-class seats. The A220 is designed for the 100-150 seat market and incorporates advanced aerodynamics, materials, and Pratt & Whitney engines. It provides unbeatable comfort in a small single aisle with the widest windows, largest seats, and overhead stowage, as well as the widest and quietest cabin in its category.

The A220 also supports Bulgaria Air’s commitment to decarbonizing aviation, as it produces up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat than previous-generation aircraft and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. Additionally, the aircraft’s noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous-generation aircraft.
Airbus has received nearly 800 orders from 30 customers for the A220, with 265 already delivered. The A220 is currently in service with 16 airlines worldwide, operating on over 1,100 routes and over 375 destinations. Over 90 million passengers have flown on the A220 to date.
Hence, What do you think are the benefits of Bulgaria Air’s addition of the Airbus A220 to its fleet?
Also, you may be interested in reading: The Story of the A220, how it Came About and How it’s Becoming Popular
-
Aviation News10 months ago
Antonov An-225 to be Rebuilt After Being Destroyed in Ukraine
-
Aviation Stories11 months ago
A Boeing 747 Once Flew With 5 Engines
-
Informative11 months ago
Heads-Up-Displays (HUDs) And How It Works
-
Aviation3 years ago
SpaceX’s historic crew launch.
-
airbus2 years ago
Airbus Beluga vs Boeing Dreamlifter
-
Informative9 months ago
Why Does The Airbus A340 Have 4 Smaller Engines?
-
Informative2 years ago
Antonov An-225 Mriya: The Plane With 32 Wheels
-
Informative5 months ago
Why the Airbus A380 Only Utilizes Reverse Thrust on Its Inner Engines