Airbus Rolling Out A350 Soon But No Fanfare

tioloko100 · Thu May 09, 2013 7:25 am

Its always expected that when a new aircraft is introduced, its starts with alot of publicity/fanfare; a usual way for aircraft especially airliners to make a big entrance into the market but Airbus is removing the fanfare out of its plan to roll out the much awaited Airbus A350. Is image not everything in aviation anymore?

http://flyingactive.com/content/144-...zle-dazzle-rollout-newest-jet.html

PM · Thu May 09, 2013 7:29 am

Quoting tioloko100 (Thread starter):
Is image not everything in aviation anymore?

Was it ever? I'd rather hoped that safety and efficiency would count for something.

Anyway, the answer is no. Getting the things built on spec, on budget and on time are what matter now.

Phen · Thu May 09, 2013 7:34 am

I would imagine that Airbus are keen to avoid any possible repeat of what can only be described as a fiasco that has been the EIS of the 787. They probably want to portray the image that they are more interested in getting the aircraft in the air on time and with a smooth EIS than flashy press events which ultimately mean nothing if your customers can't fly your airplane after its been delivered.

RubberJungle · Thu May 09, 2013 7:55 am

There's also the practical aspect. Airbus is dealing with arrangement for the Paris air show and a large annual technical briefing two weeks earlier, and probably doesn't need the headache of organising a third media-heavy event at the same time.

columba · Thu May 09, 2013 8:02 am

The A350 is not an airplane that produces much emotion with the public. It is no giant double decker like the A380 or is the first airplane that introduces a new groundbreaking technology like the 787 did.

tioloko100 · Thu May 09, 2013 8:03 am

Quoting phen (Reply 2):
doesn't need the headache of organising a third media-heavy event at the same time.

yeah but that doesn't mean the launch of the new Aircraft be done shabbily, every new aircraft needs a good launch that will last longer in the minds of the general public.

Francoflier · Thu May 09, 2013 8:23 am

Quoting tioloko100 (Thread starter):
Is image not everything in aviation anymore?

It seemed to be for a while, didn't it? Airliners were launched with more 'tapage' than a new Hollywood blockbuster.

Of course, the mediatization turned against the manufacturers when their divine child turned out to run into all sorts of down to earth and embarrassing issues...

Maybe it's what jinxed them.

JValjean · Thu May 09, 2013 8:32 am

Bombardier effectively "rolled-out" the CS100 two months ago with an incomplete and unpainted aircraft by calling the event an "update" instead.

See: http://airteamimages.net/bombardier-cs100_50001_bombardier_171191.html

Boeing never marked the "roll-out" of 747-8F with a ceremony of any kind, but did stage a very splashy event for the "unveiling" of the Intercontinenal.

Seems odd that Airbus would completely eschew the opportunity to stage a ceremony to formally "roll-out" the first aiircraft of their major new program, especially when a completed and painted aircraft will be available for such an event. It's hard to believe John Leahy has lost his penchant for staging a laser light show to mark such an "important" program milestone.

tullamarine · Thu May 09, 2013 8:46 am

Quoting columba (Reply 4):

I don't think fancy rollouts will happen again after the disaster that was the 787 rollout. Who will ever forget rolling out that plane to great fanfare when in fact the whole thing was a farce and they might as well have rolled out a cardboard cutout?

moo · Thu May 09, 2013 8:46 am

Quoting jvaljean (Reply 7):
Seems odd that Airbus would completely eschew the opportunity to stage a ceremony to formally "roll-out" the first aiircraft of their major new program, especially when a completed and painted aircraft will be available for such an event. It's hard to believe John Leahy has lost his penchant for staging a laser light show to mark such an "important" program milestone.

Alternatively, this gets more positive talk generated than a flashy roll out ceremony...

Think about it, the world is currently in a time of austerity - governments are cutting back, people are being paid less etc etc etc. If Airbus did a flashy roll out, spent lots of money on it, got lots of government figures to attend - well, that would lead to the bad kind of column inches very quickly, criticism and concern. And negativity is always remembered longer than positivity.

This way, people still talk about it - look at this thread, talking about something thats *not* happening! And the media will still cover the first flight entirely for free.

JValjean · Thu May 09, 2013 9:18 am

Quoting moo (Reply 9):
Think about it, the world is currently in a time of austerity - governments are cutting back, people are being paid less etc etc etc. If Airbus did a flashy roll out, spent lots of money on it, got lots of government figures to attend - well, that would lead to the bad kind of column inches very quickly, criticism and concern. And negativity is always remembered longer than positivity.

Ok, then have an "austere" roll-out ceremony. Sorry, it's odd, to stay the least, that some sort of roll-out ceremony (splashy or otherwise) is being completely eschewed for a major new program, when it's such an entrenched tradition in the industry.

RubberJungle · Thu May 09, 2013 10:10 am

Roll-outs were probably more significant in the days before everyone had access to a digital camera and posted photos of the thing on the internet at every opportunity. Why bother with an expensive formal event when the crowd is doing your publicity work for you - for free?

tropical · Thu May 09, 2013 10:43 am

Not a bad move IMO, for reasons stated in previous posts.

Anyway, surely first flight is far, far more relevant, important and newsworthy? Let Airbus stage a show then. I still remember the incredible buzz on the day the first flight of the A380. A very special day indeed.

Ncfc99 · Thu May 09, 2013 10:51 am

Anyone think they are not going to waste a few days doing a roll-out show, but instead will waste a day flying it to Paris air show for the day.

They wouldn't have to do any arranging, just turn up to a show already running and steal it.

BlueShamu330s · Thu May 09, 2013 11:23 am

Quoting ncfc99 (Reply 13):
Anyone think they are not going to waste a few days doing a roll-out show, but instead will waste a day flying it to Paris air show for the day. They wouldn't have to do any arranging, just turn up to a show already running and steal it.

Ding ding !

Bongodog1964 · Thu May 09, 2013 11:36 am

One factor that might mitigate against a formal roll out ceremony is the stance that the media might then take, on the lines of "today Airbus roll out their competitor to Boeing's problematic Dreamliner" Followed by mentions of how the Dreamliner ended up delayed for years and subsequently grounded, followed by the question "will the A350 also have a bumpy path to service entry"

Plus of course the chance for the media to refer back to the A380's difficulties between 1st flight and service entry.

Far better to let the plane speak for itself in the air.

[Edited 2013-05-09 04:37:57]

moo · Thu May 09, 2013 11:44 am

Quoting jvaljean (Reply 10):
it's odd, to stay the least, that some sort of roll-out ceremony (splashy or otherwise) is being completely eschewed for a major new program, when it's such an entrenched tradition in the industry.

Traditions are not law, don't forget that.

The last two airliners to have flashy, media-centric launches both suffered massive delays afterward - I doubt that that is something Airbus has forgotten, and has looked into how it would play in the media if they did one for the A350XWB.

Better to put on a show by action than by promise. Get the aircraft flying, thats your roll out right there.

zkojq · Thu May 09, 2013 12:18 pm

I don't care what Airbus does, so long as they upload lots of high-res photos (from many different angles) to their website ASAP. I'm sure lots of people here feel similarly.

Quoting moo (Reply 16):
Get the aircraft flying, thats your roll out right there.

JValjean · Thu May 09, 2013 12:30 pm

LOL. The notion of using this aircraft for a few hours as part of a roll-out ceremony would consume days of valuable time is ludicrous. Let's hope that this decision merely reflects a change in PR strategy rather than being driven by the demands of the flight-test program because that isn't credible.

StuckInCA · Thu May 09, 2013 12:31 pm

Quoting phen (Reply 2):
I would imagine that Airbus are keen to avoid any possible repeat of what can only be described as a fiasco that has been the EIS of the 787.

True enough. I wouldn't describe the A380 EIS as a spectacular success either.

airbazar · Thu May 09, 2013 12:36 pm

Quoting tioloko100 (Thread starter):
Its always expected that when a new aircraft is introduced, its starts with alot of publicity/fanfare; a usual way for aircraft especially airliners to make a big entrance into the market but Airbus is removing the fanfare out of its plan to roll out the much awaited Airbus A350. Is image not everything in aviation anymore?

Do you want bigger fanfare than a fly by at the Paris Air Show?

Quoting ncfc99 (Reply 13):
Anyone think they are not going to waste a few days doing a roll-out show, but instead will waste a day flying it to Paris air show for the day.

EPA001 · Thu May 09, 2013 12:42 pm

Quoting RubberJungle (Reply 3):
There's also the practical aspect. Airbus is dealing with arrangement for the Paris air show and a large annual technical briefing two weeks earlier, and probably doesn't need the headache of organising a third media-heavy event at the same time.

That sounds as a very likely explanation why they might not be too keen on organising another big media event in this time of the year.

And the speed of the building en development process is more important then showing off the new airplane which everyone will see a few days later anyway.

JValjean · Thu May 09, 2013 1:06 pm

There's lots of stuff going on at a big airshow which difuses public and media attention somewhat, traditional roll-out and maiden flight events are completely focused on the aircraft involved which is ostensibly why they've been done in the past.

[Edited 2013-05-09 06:10:18]

RyanairGuru · Thu May 09, 2013 1:13 pm

Quoting jvaljean (Reply 7):
It's hard to believe John Leahy has lost his penchant for staging a laser light show

Ruscoe · Thu May 09, 2013 1:53 pm

I find it a little strange that their won't be a significant Ceremony when the 350 is rolled out.

The reasons given all seem reasonable and logical, but there is another possibility.

I hope it is not the case but Airbus may already know they "have a problem" which is going to hold up FF or certification.

Ruscoe

Cerecl · Thu May 09, 2013 1:58 pm

Quoting Ruscoe (Reply 24):
I hope it is not the case but Airbus may already know they "have a problem" which is going to hold up FF or certification.

I think it is possible. Zeke has already alluded to the possibility of other test flight frame not being ready in time, and we all know the current schedule is very tight as it is.

Rbgso · Thu May 09, 2013 2:11 pm

Probably a wise move on their part. Keep a low profile, build it right, and deliver it on time and on spec. Marketing fluff is unimportant at this point. It's not like every airline in the world isn't aware of this aircraft.

tockeyhockey · Thu May 09, 2013 2:17 pm

didn't boeing fall into a ridiculous trap that they set for themselves by forcing some sort of huge announcement of a prototype completion on 7/8/07? people speculated that it was done to appease the superstitious chinese customers.

i'm sure i'm not remembering this exactly, but the engines for the displayed plane were basically duct taped on. it might as well have been a cardboard cutout of a 787.

think about how much energy that event wasted, and how little that did to truly support the 787 program. sales were never the problem with the plane, so fanfare was the last thing it needed.

that's what airbus is responding to -- they have learned their lesson from boeing's mistakes and are focusing on the engineering and the engineering alone.

zeke · Thu May 09, 2013 2:21 pm

Quoting Cerecl (Reply 25):
Zeke has already alluded to the possibility of other test flight frame not being ready in time, and we all know the current schedule is very tight as it is.

I am just stating the obvious. It took Boeing around 10 weeks from roll out to getting their first 777 in the air, another 20 weeks after that to get their first 4 test aircraft flying, and then another 25 weeks then to get certification.

That is for a similar size aircraft, 55 weeks from roll out to certification, then another month for EIS. I am not hearing a lot about subsequent aircraft getting into the FAL. For them to be able to compress the test schedule, they need 4-5 aircraft flying ASAP.

In my mind 2014 EIS is looking very tight.

KarelXWB · Thu May 09, 2013 2:32 pm

Quoting zeke (Reply 28):
In my mind 2014 EIS is looking very tight.

It is, Airbus already removed 6 months from the flight test schedule meaning there is no room for error.

[Edited 2013-05-09 07:34:40]

solnabo · Thu May 09, 2013 3:45 pm

Here she is before her make-up

http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intel...st-look-at-a-complete-airbus-a350/

//Mike

douglasyxz · Thu May 09, 2013 4:08 pm

There has been quite a lot of negative PR for the Dreamliner grounding both on internet and traditional media not too long ago. Airbus probably wants to avoid journalists and blogger not familiar with the business mix up things and create negative coverage just for the sake of having another sensational report that is related to aviation.

I'm with Airbus here to do their job of making the aircraft ready first and think of PR later once it has completed a number of test flights.
Holding a big event and running into trouble later would be much worse than to keep on working and let the pictures (and videos) of flying A350 do a positive PR.

Focker · Thu May 09, 2013 5:20 pm

Also, if the rumour of first flight to be on 11 June is to be true, why organise another big event only 4 weeks before that?

In my opinion, better to focus on the "real thing", i.e. the first flight.

HBGDS · Thu May 09, 2013 5:25 pm

Airbus has a long tradition of NOT celebrating roll-out. They in turn have a special day for the media occasionally, but it is a way to avoid public mishaps. They used not to even state when the first flight would take place (A 310, for example), and relented on the A380 (i.e. Concorde style). View this more as a tension between marketing and engineering. It's a Dilbert world everywhere.

glideslope · Thu May 09, 2013 8:13 pm

Quoting jvaljean (Reply 7):
It's hard to believe John Leahy has lost his penchant for staging a laser light show to mark such an "important" program milestone.

Well he's not getting any younger, and well, there was the Heart Attack.

Going Low Key.

dtw2hyd · Thu May 09, 2013 10:36 pm

Rollout is a marketing event. They should celebrate big, that's how you attract customers. Any complex project is going to have problems, that doesn't stop sales folks from selling stuff. One thing Airbus should not do is claim A350 project is not going to have any problems like B787. That is a big no no.

Prost · Thu May 09, 2013 10:54 pm

If Airbus sticks to the knitting, they have a great success on their hands. And I'm hearing clicking from France.

hOMSaR · Fri May 10, 2013 12:25 am

Quoting tioloko100 (Reply 5):
yeah but that doesn't mean the launch of the new Aircraft be done shabbily, every new aircraft needs a good launch that will last longer in the minds of the general public.

How many people in the "general public" remember the launch of the 777? 747? A330?

morrisond · Fri May 10, 2013 12:37 am

The Tail kind of reminds me of a B52.

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