In a new stage of the certification campaign, the ultra long range jet Airbus A321XLR was last week in the region of Iqaluit, in Canada, where it underwent tests in extreme cold weather.
The aircraft with serial number MSN11058 departed the manufacturer’s headquarters in Toulouse, France, on February 20 and remained in Iqaluit until Friday. Meteorological data indicated that the temperature in the region was around -33°C during the visit of the A321XLR.
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Airbus did not detail the testing schedule for the aircraft in Canada. However, it is known that in evaluations of this type new aircraft have all their systems tested in the extreme cold weather environment in flight tests and on the ground.
Some of the components analyzed in these tests are the engines, auxiliary power unit (APU), avionics and landing gear.
Certainly a #FrostyFriday as our #A321XLR returns to Toulouse from her week of extreme cold weather testing in Iqaluit, Canada 🍁
Thank you Instagrammer Blaine.Heffernan for these awesome pics! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/xcqhj7f2vM
— Airbus (@Airbus) February 24, 2023
In addition to the tests in freezing temperatures, the A321XLR still needs to be evaluated in other environments and conditions to obtain the certificate of airworthiness.
Tests at airports located at high altitudes and experiments in hot weather are part of the schedule for the new Airbus jet in search of approval for commercial flights.
A sales success since its launch in 2019, with hundreds of units ordered even before its certification, the A321XLR is expected to enter service in the first half of 2024.
Equipped with an additional fuel tank, the single-aisle aircraft promises a flight range in the range of 8,700 km (4,700 nm), a range currently only possible with wide-body jets.
