A350 Testing Approaches Conclusion With Route Proving
Airbus A350s have flown more than 2,250 hours during 540 flights.
Airbus A350-900 MSN005 awaits deployment to several cities around the world to conduct route-proving runs. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus A350-900 MSN005 awaits deployment to several cities around the world to conduct route-proving runs. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus is working hard to complete A350 flight testing, which it hopes to close by the end of next month in preparation for formal European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness approval in September. Principal remaining work involves long-range flights now under way following a maximum-energy rejected takeoff (MERTO) demonstration at Istres Air Force Base in France on July 19. By July 22, the five A350 test aircraft had logged more than 2,250 hours during about 540 flights involving more than 1,380 takeoff/landing cycles.