A350 test programme accelerates. Since its first flight in June, the A350 is stepping up its test flights. 77 have been carried out to date ! During the 380 hours already spent in the air, Airbus pilots have been able to enlarge the operational flight envelop, with systems tests and establishment of the low speed aerodynamic configurations... Since its first flight in June, the A-350 has been stepping up its test flights. 77 have been carried out to date ! During the 380 hours already spent in the air, Airbus pilots have been able to enlarge the operational flight envelop, with systems tests and establishment of the low speed aerodynamic configurations of the aircraft. But much remains to be done, as indicated by the programme director at a specialized press briefing. Didier Evrard. "At the moment we have a second plane that is flying and we will continue the programme with a more complete identification of the aerodynamics, and then also push the systems to their operating limits. Then at the beginning of next year, two additional aircraft will join the test fleet, one of which will be equipped with a real cabin." Because for now, the first two prototype interiors are clad, floor to ceiling, with test instrumentation. It will therefore be with the third A-350 that the first long-haul passenger carrying flights will be made next summer. Passengers who will be Airbus employees randomly selected to test the aircraft under “real operating conditions”. A fifth and last test A-350 will reinforce the fleet in June 2014, with the objective of obtaining the civil aircraft certification for its commercialization by the end of next year. The timing is tight however… Didier Evrard. "Now, we have to accustom the entire industrial system to produce at higher and higher rates. Today we are at one a month - in a little over a year it will be three a month on the A-350 final assembly line. So this is a big challenge, not only for Airbus, but also our suppliers.” COM 3 : With 756 firm orders from 38 different companies, the A-350, available in three versions should, like its big brother the A-330-300 also be available as a “regional”. In other words, a lighter version for shorter trips - 10,000 km maximum, instead of the 15,000 that the aircraft is normally able to fly.