Airbus and Boeing Pursue Out-of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Next-Gen Aircraft

The commercial aerospace sector is making progress toward achieving high-rate production of composite aerostructures. Airbus and Boeing, the two major airframers, are exploring out-of-autoclave (OoA) manufacturing processes for their next-generation aircraft.

Currently, autoclaves are used to cure composite structures such as wing top covers. However, this process is time-intensive and expensive, limiting production rates and presenting complex challenges for the future of airliner manufacturing.

The companies are researching how to produce large composite structures without using autoclaves. According to Bjorn Fehrm, an LNA aerospace analyst, Airbus would need as many as 20 autoclaves running continuously to support all-composite narrowbody production rates of around 100 aircraft per month.

Airbus' Wing of Tomorrow program is working on developing new wing designs with higher aspect ratios for future aircraft platforms. The company aims to increase fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs by leveraging next-generation wing technologies.