Airbus has delivered its first touch screen cockpit displays on a China Eastern A350.
Three of the aircraft’s six large screens — the two outer displays and the lower center display — can become touch-capable and be used with electronic flight bag applications.
The touch screens were developed in conjunction with aerospace technology giant Thales and certified in November by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for use in the A350.
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They complement a keyboard integrated into a retractable table in front of each pilot as well as a keyboard and trackball in the center console.
Airbus says that about 20 airlines have so far selected the option on new A350s and predicts the technology will improve operational efficiency while providing greater crew interaction, cockpit symmetry and smoother information management.
It believes the touch screens will be particularly useful before take-off for computing performance while entering data into the flight navigations computer, for accessing en-route navigation charts during cruise and for consulting terminal charts before approach.
It also expects the screens to make it easier for pilots during high workload phases of a flight by reducing the need for multiple cursor inputs and making it unnecessary to flip between different displays when using the electronic flight bag collaboratively on the lower center display.
The head of the A30 program, Patrick Piedrafita, said that Airbus continued to set industry trends in aircraft cockpit design.
“With our partner Thales we are very proud to bring this technology to our customers, to enhance their aircrews’ operations,” he said.
The A350 is proving a big success for Airbus and by the end of November, it had received 951 firm orders from 51 customers for the A350.
The high-tech aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines to provide a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn.
Qantas recently selected the biggest version of the A350 family, the A350-1000, for its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul project but has yet to lodge a firm order.
Meanwhile, Air Caraibes this week took delivery of its first A350-1000 to become the first French operator of the type.
