Airbus Beluga to Assist Damaged British Airways A350 at Heathrow

An Airbus Beluga is set to assist in the repair of a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 stranded at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) since April 2024. This comes after the British Airways aircraft, registered G-XWBC, suffered significant damage in a collision with a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

On April 6, 2024, the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner struck the parked British Airways A350’s right-hand horizontal stabilizer while being pushed back. The A350 was scheduled to fly to Accra Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Ghana. Although the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner returned to service in June 2024, the British Airways A350 has remained out of action awaiting repairs.

Recent reports indicate that an Airbus Beluga, a specialized cargo aircraft, is expected to arrive at Heathrow on September 9, 2024, to deliver the necessary spare parts for the damaged A350. According to Aviation Data Analyst M Zulqarnain B, this Beluga will be an Airbus BelugaXL, known for its role in transporting large components. The BelugaXL, which began service in 2014, replaced the older BelugaST fleet and is currently operated by Airbus from France.

This isn’t the first time the British Airways A350 has encountered issues at Heathrow. In April 2022, the same aircraft was involved in a separate incident. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigated an event where G-XWBC attempted a go-around from low height and speed after arriving from Dubai. The AAIB report, published on August 18, 2022, concluded that insufficient energy during the go-around led to a tailstrike, caused by a pitch rate induced by the co-pilot.

The current situation highlights ongoing challenges in aircraft maintenance and logistics. While the Beluga’s involvement is a positive step toward returning the British Airways A350 to service, delays and incidents like these underscore the complexities of modern aviation operations.

This repair mission reflects the critical role of specialized aircraft in supporting airline operations, especially when dealing with large and complex components. The Airbus Beluga’s deployment illustrates the airline industry’s reliance on innovative solutions to address unexpected challenges and minimize operational disruptions.

Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=British+Airways

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, AeroTime