On Tuesday, 29 September 2026, the first Airbus A350F (MSN700, registration F-WXLD) took off from Toulouse at 10:31 local time. On board: two pilots and three flight test engineers. Airbus describes the next step as a 10-month, 400 flight-hour test campaign. Air Cargo News reports that Airbus targets certification by EASA and the FAA around the middle of 2027.
The facts
Airbus states a payload capability of 111 tonnes and up to 40% lower fuel burn than the current in-service competition. According to Air Cargo News, 115 A350 freighters have been ordered by at least 14 customers, and a second test aircraft (MSN701) is in final assembly and expected to fly later in 2026.
Why a quality manager should care
A first flight is the visible moment. The quality work behind it is invisible and much longer. Every part on a flight test aircraft has to match its type design data, and every deviation found during the campaign flows back into production drawings, supplier specifications and first article inspections.
From my own audit experience, the weeks after a programme milestone are when supplier change control gets tested hardest. Engineering changes move fast. Purchase orders, drawings and inspection plans at sub-tier level follow slowly — sometimes not at all.
Where it shows up for suppliers
Three areas deserve attention in any new or changing programme:
First article inspection. AS9102 Revision C (June 2023) requires the reason for a full or partial FAI to be stated on every FAI, and the person approving the FAIR should not be the same person who performed it. Any design change that affects form, fit or function triggers a new or partial FAI.
Configuration at sub-tier level. The IAQG’s IA9100 Key Change Summary (November 2023) restructures clause 8.4 to strengthen „direct and sub-tier control.“ Programmes in test phases are where that control is stressed.
Dual authority certification. When EASA and the FAA certify in parallel, documentation has to satisfy two sets of reviewers. Inconsistent records between the two packages are a common source of findings.
Three actions for suppliers on new programmes
1. Check that every open engineering change has a matching FAI decision (full, partial, or not required — with reason).
2. Ask your sub-tier suppliers for their current drawing revision on one part. Compare. Do it this week.
3. Keep a single change log that both your EASA and FAA customers‘ requirements can be traced to.
Sources
- Airbus — A350F first flight live and freighter journey (29 September 2026), airbus.com
- Air Cargo News — First Airbus A350F takes off (29 September 2026), aircargonews.net
- Aviation A2Z — Airbus A350F operates its first test flight (29 September 2026), aviationa2z.com
- Discus Software — AS9102 Rev C: What you need to know (2023), discussoftware.com
- General Dynamics Land Systems — AS9102C Numbered Explanation (December 2025), gdls.com
- IAQG — IA9100 Key Change Summary, clause view (November 2023), iaqg.org