A total of 62 A350XWBs have been ordered by Etihad. The dual-configuration (pilot/copilot) HUD is a newer development to the more traditional, pilot only HUD configuration. It is gaining traction in the commercial market as it improves situational awareness and efficiency of both pilot and copilot, by giving them the same level of eyes-out instrument visibility during critical phases of the flight, especially in low visibility and adverse weather conditions thus improving safety.
The group already equips single configuration HUDs on Qatar Airways A380s. This is the first dual-configuration HUD in the Middle East, which strengthens Thales’s already strong position in the Middle East for this segment. It also closely follows the announcement in September of the first ever contract for a dual-configuration system the group signed with China Southern Airlines for their entire fleet of 30 Airbus A320s.
The interest by many global airlines to equip their newest aircraft with a HUD configuration is growing at an unprecedented pace. With most new build long-haul aircraft coming off assembly lines equipped with a HUD, Civil Aviation Authorities such as the Chinese CAAC have made a basic single-configuration HUD mandatory on all aircraft they register.
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