Podcast: Is the ‘Wellbeing Zone’ on Project Sunrise a gimmick?

As it sand right now, Project Sunrise may well be only a thought bubble. AJ has hinted that all may not be well with the exercise by saying that Airbus as yet hasn’t produced the needed aircraft; further he has stated that “weight reduction” is not only vital to the operation but gives the customers more space, at a premium of course. When you consider the SQ project with the 350ULR plus the initial probs with the design of the 321XLR just maybe the 350-1000 is not capable of achieving the project desires; already we has a reduction of at least 100 pax in the available payload which automatically illustrates a zero deadload availability as well. SQ’s 350ULR didn’t have aux tanks fitted, just unique “plumbing” which by all counts excludes the use of the fwd holds and the 321XLR went through a redesign phase with its needed rear aux tank. History shows that if you need extra range then you need extra tankage, the new construction products in use may well indicate that a fwd and or aft aux tank cannot be accommodated within the aircraft design in which case you can rule out a “fin tank” plus any use of underwing slipper tanks. I have to say that I am a great fan of the A350 and whilst Airbus no doubt will do all to accommodate QF wishes, in the big picture, Airbus has the needs and wishes of far bigger customers both new and existing to satisfy and not just QF. It would not surprise me if we end up with just an A350-1000ULR with just unique “plumbing” as with SQ and frankly, those economics to me just don’t add up.