The US competitor has safety concerns about the kerosene tank in the fuselage of the long-haul Airbus A321XLR.
The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has reported its European rival Airbus to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The fuel tank, which is supposed to increase the range of the long-haul Airbus A321XLR, holds “many potential dangers,” said Boeing on Tuesday. The criticism is directed against the main marketing argument of the A321XLR, which is said to fly further with the kerosene tank in the fuselage than any other aircraft with only one central aisle.
In most aircraft, most of the fuel is carried in the wings. Boeing therefore cited risks if a jet should go off the runway or the landing gear should fail on landing.
Airbus confident
Airbus was confident of solving the problem. “Public consultations are part of an aircraft development program,” said an Airbus spokesman. All issues raised would be tackled jointly with the regulators.
The Airbus concept already caught the attention of EASA: In January, the aviation authority announced that it would impose special conditions to ensure the safety of passengers. “An integral fuselage tank exposed to an external fire cannot give passengers enough time to safely exit the aircraft without adequate protection,” it said.
