In the midst of the ongoing Airbus-Qatar Airways dispute, Airbus has changed the components used in its A350 fuselage. According to a report by Reuters, Airbus is now using perforated copper foil (PCF) instead of expanded copper foil (ECF) for the layering between the paint and carbon fuselage below on the A350.
Interestingly, the ECF is key to ensuring the fuselage can deal with lightning strikes safely and is central to the $2 billion dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways.
Confirming the news, Airbus has said that it is using the new PCF on the rear fuselage for aircraft delivered at the end of 2022. The material was previously under study but was not added to new jets. Going ahead, Airbus has confirmed that the new material is lighter but will also help with the ongoing cracking problem.
On the other hand, Qatar Airways is demanding more information on the changed component as a part of the legal proceedings. Airbus has called the new component completely safe. Going ahead Qatar Airways has requested raw modeling data of the A350 to simulate a lightning strike to prove the paint gaps could cause a safety risk but Airbus has denied the data sharing on security grounds.
Meanwhile, the judge overseeing the trial has noted that the design change is significant to the case.
The two sides have reached a provisional agreement to share the data under secure conditions.
In the case so far, Qatar Airways has claimed that the chipping paint on the fuselage, exposing the metallic protective layer, is a danger to aircraft safety while Airbus pointed out that although chipping is an issue, there is no effect on safety. European Aviation Safety Agency has also backed Airbus’ stance.
Qatar has dragged Airbus to court over safety issue and refused the deliveries of new aircraft with Airbus cancelling the A350 and A320 orders.