Aviation News
How A Jet Airliner Works
Transforming how an aircraft is built
Looking to the future, Airbus is undertaking a major transformation called DDMS (Digital Design Manufacturing & Services), responding to the increasingly competitive marketplace, while also preparing for the next generation of low-emission aircraft.
To achieve this ambition aircraft manufacturing and assembly is evolving to bring in new processes, tools and jobs for a different way to design and build aircraft, while also offering an improved workspace for employees.
With increased modular design and customisation capabilities the next industrial system will leverage higher levels of standardisation and commonality of parts and major components, enabling new Build-To-Stock and Build-to-Order decoupled approaches. In the factories, teams will benefit from even more digital and connected processes, tools and devices. This will enable just-in-time operations and flexibility to produce and assemble aircraft faster, in a cleaner, more efficient and even safer environment. They will perform activities with more added value, supported by robots and using lighter-weight tooling.
This ambitious makeover will enable Airbus to adapt production rates more rapidly to meet customer demand, further enhance quality, increase flexibility in the delivery of aircraft, lower the environmental impact by decarbonising manufacturing activities, and reduce costs.
The Airplane Manufacturing Market
The airplane manufacturing market is part of the overall airline industry. The global market's estimated value was more than $424 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to well more than half a trillion dollars by 2032.1 Companies in this market are involved in the manufacturing of airplanes and their components, including engines and propulsion systems...
- This involves creating the blueprints and specifications for the aircraft, including its structure, systems (e.g., flight control, navigation, communication), and performance characteristics.
- This phase involves the actual production of the aircraft components and their assembly into the final product.
- Rigorous testing is conducted throughout the manufacturing process to ensure the aircraft meets safety and performance standards.
- Strict quality control measures are in place to ensure that all components and the final product meet the required standards.
- Aircraft manufacturers market and sell their products to airlines, military organizations, and other customers.
- Ongoing maintenance, repair, and support are essential to ensure the safe and reliable operation of aircraft throughout their service life.
- A major manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft, with a strong presence in the global market.
- Another major player in the commercial aircraft market, known for its A320 and A380 families.
- A Chinese aircraft manufacturer that is emerging as a competitor in the global market.
- A Japanese manufacturer that is developing and producing regional aircraft.
- A Russian aerospace manufacturer that produces a range of aircraft, including commercial and military aircraft.
- The Airplane Manufacturing Market:
- Global Market Value: The global market is estimated to be worth over $400 billion.
- Growth: The market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for air travel.
- Challenges: The industry faces challenges such as increasing competition, technological advancements, and environmental concerns.
When you board an airline flight, you might not spend much time thinking about the engines. But they're the only reason that 700,000 pounds of aluminum and passengers can hurtle through the air at 80% the speed of sound. So how do they work? Let's take a look.
The Basics
Jet engines, which are also called gas turbines, work by sucking air into the front of the engine using a fan. From there, the engine compresses the air, mixes fuel with it, ignites the fuel/air mixture, and shoots it out the back of the engine, creating thrust.
- Engine starting (Auto) system.
- N1 and N2 rotor shafts.
- Engine fan, low pressure compressor, low pressure turbine, combustion chamber, High pressure compressor and high pressure turbine.
- Aircraft Battery, fuel tank, booster pumps, and spar valve.
- Electronic engine control and Alternator.
- Accessories gear box, transfer gear box, internal gear box, horizontal and radial drive shafts.
- Fuel pump, fuel-oil heat exchanger, fuel filter, hydro mechanical unit, fuel flow transmitter and fuel nozzles.
- Start valve, air starter, air swirlers, Ignition exciters and igniter plugs.
Four Fundamentals of Flight
166K views 8 years ago. Learn the basis of aerodynamics in this exciting video! We explore what exactly makes an airplane fly!
Principles of flight – Part 1 : Fundamentals
Giant Aircraft: Manufacturing an Airbus A350 | Mega Manufacturing | Free Documentary
If you are planning a long trip somewhere, you could drive your car, ride a train or take a boat, but the odds are you'll be flying. Airplanes give us the ability to travel long distances in only a fraction of the time it would take by other forms of transportation. If you are travelling by air, you will almost certainly have to fly on one of the commercial airlines that has flights to your chosen destination. Americans love to travel, as is witnessed by the hordes of travelers at the airport nowadays. In the United States, 665-million people traveled on at least one U.S. airline in 2000. Twenty-five-thousand (25,000) flights depart every day from American airports, and Americans are expected to travel even more in 2001. An airline's basic function is to transport passengers and their luggage from one point to another. Just like any other service industry, the airline industry provides a service for a set price. In this edition of HowStuffWorks, you will learn about the different types of airlines, how they're structured and how they determine ticket prices. ...
Aircraft Manufacturing Careers
From Boeing and Airbus to Pilatus, Cessna and Eclipse, there are a wide variety of aircraft manufacturing companies – and nearly as many career choices in the industry. From small single-engine personal aircraft all the way to gigantic transports, you could be building the airplanes of tomorrow.
