The A350 XWB, Airbus’ next passenger aircraft, is currently in the design phase and is scheduled to come into service in 2013. The design of the A350 XWB includes up to 52% composite materials and will be the first aircraft to have a wing made entirely of composites.
Atkins Nedtech, a specialist in design, integration and analysis of airframe and gas turbine components and systems based in the Netherlands, was awarded the contract by
Airbus Operations GbmH, Bremen.
“This project is particularly exciting because it’s an opportunity for Atkins to demonstrate that we’re leading in the design and analysis of composite materials and contributing to improved fuel efficiency,” says Neil Kirk, Managing Director of Atkins’ Aerospace business.
Engineering consultancy
Atkins acquired Nedtech Engineering of Amsterdam in 2007 and last year also opened an office in Hamburg to ensure it is geographically close to its clients in Germany.