With the A350 conceived as the natural replacement in the Airbus product line for the A330 family, the manufacturer had to ensure the desire to introduce advanced technology into the new twinjet did not create too big a step for pilots transitioning from the earlier type.
While on the face of it, the new cockpit with its six huge glass display screens looks a world apart from its predecessor, the reality is that once crews have undergone conversion training the two environments feel very similar, says Christian Norden, head of A350 flight crew training at Airbus.
