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DEC 25 2019

The high specs that even the crew are amazed. The captain and cabin attendant talk about the AIRBUS A350

The new AIRBUS A350 aircraft began operation on September 1st, and is currently in service on some routes between Haneda and Fukuoka and Haneda and New Chitose. This new flagship aircraft, which will begin with domestic routes and then expand to other routes, is a product of JAL's confidence. To introduce its capabilities, we will report from the perspective of the captain and cabin attendant who actually fly the aircraft.

High maneuverability that contributes to customer safety

"I was seconded to Jetstar Japan in October 2016 and gained about 1,100 hours of flight experience on the (Airbus) A320 over about two and a half years. This transfer allows me to utilize my knowledge of the A320 as we are introducing Airbus aircraft for the first time in a long time."

画像: 運航本部 A350運航乗務部 副部長 A350機長 杉本 恒

Tsune Sugimoto, Deputy General Manager, A350 Flight Crew Division, Flight Operations Headquarters, A350 Captain

Sugimoto Tsune, who spoke as the captain of the A350, had just finished his shift that day. JAL has used many Boeing aircraft in the past, but this time they have adopted an advanced and economical Airbus aircraft. There are still not many pilots with A350 type qualifications. They plan to increase the number of pilots as the airline launches new services in the future, but it is not easy because the design changes with the change in manufacturer and the flight control system must be completely mastered.

"The most notable features of Airbus aircraft are the commonality of control and trajectory stability. Although there are minor differences between each series, the side stick control feel and cockpit layout are standardized, so once you have mastered the Airbus controls, it is easy to transition to other aircraft types. Also, the biggest difference with Boeing aircraft is the aircraft's automatic stabilization system. If it detects a change in the aircraft's attitude, it automatically adjusts the horizontal stabilizer. This means that as long as the side stick is kept neutral, the aircraft will maintain its current flight path."

This is getting a bit technical, but the A350 is designed to be a comfortable environment not only in terms of cabin space, but also in terms of how it is operated.

画像: お客さまの安全につながる高い操縦性能

"In addition, while aircraft attitude control is usually achieved by using hydraulic systems separated into three systems to move the control surfaces, the A350 has two hydraulic systems, as well as a hydraulic pump actuator (mechanical operating component) with some electrically controlled functions, further improving reliability. Also noteworthy is the braking system. After landing, by inputting the taxiway into the system in advance, the automatic brakes are activated, enabling the aircraft to approach the taxiway more smoothly at the optimal time."

A comfortable space with air pressure and humidity close to that on the ground

These characteristics, which reduce the burden of piloting and increase pilot accuracy, contribute to customer safety. The A350 has been designed based on the accumulated experience of various past cases, and is therefore highly reliable.

"The A350 is the culmination of Airbus's wisdom, as it reflects the voices of pilots and is the result of sincere research into past cases. I think it is an aircraft of great interest to pilots around the world. At the same time, it is also highly fuel efficient."

画像: 地上に近い気圧と湿度で、快適な空間

"In the cockpit, you can hardly feel the engine noise or vibration, and it feels very quiet. Furthermore, compared to conventional aircraft, the cabin air pressure is closer to that on the ground, and the aircraft is also equipped with a humidity control function, so you will experience a space that is gentle on the body. We hope that many customers will experience this valuable new air travel experience, made possible by the collaboration between Airbus, JAL, and Rolls-Royce, which designed the engines."

Even from the cabin attendant's point of view, the interior space is high-spec

Now, this level of comfort is most keenly felt by flight attendants, who provide service in the same space as passengers.

"In preparation for the introduction of the A350, I flew on three test flights before it went into service, and I could feel the sophisticated atmosphere inside the aircraft. We were greeted by the crane emblem at the boarding gate, and the cabin space has a calming impression with its wood-toned design. The ceilings are high and there is a sense of openness, and the restrooms are easy to use. It is a comfortable space that makes you feel relaxed. Since the aircraft began service, we have also received feedback from customers that the cabin is really quiet. I'm sure that if you fly on the A350, you will find it easy to communicate even in a low voice."

画像: 客室品質企画部企画・運営グループ 中村智美

Room Quality Planning Department Planning and Operations Group, Tomomi Nakamura

Nakamura Tomomi, who said this, is currently creating a manual for the cabin attendants who will actually be working on the A350 regarding its facilities and services. She is using her experience as a cabin attendant and her past experience working in a similar role on an international Boeing 787 flight to carry out her duties.

"Cabin attendant manuals on in-flight services, safety, etc. are stored on the iPads that each cabin attendant is loaned. We are creating content with the aim of enabling them to access the necessary information quickly and in a timely manner. From personal monitors to how to use the seats and hints on how to operate the equipment, we are creating this from the perspective of the cabin attendants who will use it in the field, making full use of videos."

Relaxing seats and personal monitors offering a wide range of content

The seats have also seen a major evolution.

画像: くつろげるシートと、多彩なコンテンツが楽しめる個人モニター

"While the economy class seats are compact, they are luxurious and supportive, as if they are hugging your body. And now all seats are equipped with charging ports as well as USB ports, so I think passengers who use mobile devices on board will find them very convenient."

Nakamura says that the presence of "personal monitors" will have a huge impact on both customers and flight attendants.

"All seats on the A350 are equipped with personal monitors, and because all cabin crew are required to become familiar with how to operate them, we received training in advance from an instructor who came to Japan from the United States. In addition to the in-flight entertainment that can be accessed from the personal monitors, there are many other things to enjoy, such as the free Wi-Fi function. You can now watch movies on domestic flights, and when you stop the movie, a password will be displayed. You can continue watching the movie by entering the password when you board our A350 aircraft at a later date. You can also see the scenery captured by the external camera on the tail, which is not available on other aircraft."

Evolving usability through detailed updates

In addition to these expansions of customer services, there have also been some smaller improvements.

"First of all, the service carts are a little different from those on other planes, and are designed with an emphasis on lightness and safety. Also, up until now, if there was turbulence during the flight and the seatbelt signs were turned on, we, the flight attendants, had to make an announcement. However, the A350 automatically makes an announcement when it detects turbulence inside the cabin. Furthermore, the doors of the spacious overhead luggage compartments now have an electric support function that assists in opening and closing them."

In addition, the ovens that heat up customers' meals have been changed from the conventional microwave type to steam ovens, enabling us to serve more meals at the optimum temperature.

Image: Detailed updates improve usability

"During the verification flight, we had a chef on board who checked the food in detail with a thermometer. However, during the actual flight, we received feedback from cabin attendants saying that they would like the temperature set a little higher so that they can serve food to customers at the most suitable temperature, so we have already made some improvements."

In this way, the A350 is updated daily, reflecting the voices of customers and flight crew working on the ground. In order to provide our customers with a better air travel experience, the aircraft is always required to be at its best. The flagship A350 is constantly evolving.

Behind the Scenes at JAL

We'll take you behind the scenes of JAL's work, including inside stories on the introduction of the A350 and the development of in-flight meal menus.

The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

This article is a sponsored article by
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