Airbus have begun to inform airlines that have ordered the new A350 that the new plane will have Nickel-Cadmium batteries; rather than lithium-ion batteries that have troubled Boeing 787 Dreamliner it informed CNBC on Thursday.
Airbus said the move is based entirely on reducing uncertainty in the program schedule – not due to any safety concerns.
Airbus will continue working on eventually using lithium-ion batteries in A350 models, but until questions about the reliability of those batteries are resolved, the European plane maker will use nickel-cadmium batteries.
The plane maker is on track on deliver the A350 late next year.
The lithium-ion batteries, used to power Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, are the subject of a probe after technical problems at two of the planes prompted regulators worldwide grounded entire the fleet of 50 planes last month.
It remains to be seen where these leaves the prospects of the A350 and 787 for private completion customers.
News brought to you by: Aircraft-Completion.com