On Aug 26th, the FAA approved Boeing to begin producing the new 787 for commercial airline use, and that makes me extremely excited. But why? You may say "it's just another jet I'll have to pay too much for, only to be delayed hours on end before squeezing in a middle seat between to oversized line backers.” Well it's true, the 787 won't cure any existing airline problems, remove delays and flight cancellations or get you to your cross country destination in less than an hour, but I truly believe that the 787 promises both the airline industry and the traveling public a new and fresh option in air travel.
The sense of adventure in airline travel has been all but lost in the last 10 years as security measures have seemingly squeezed any remaining joy out of flying commercially. The act of taking off ones shoes and walking through a full body scanner makes one feel much more like cattle walking through the maze of metal pipe-work, leading the unknowing cow to its demise, than an excited world traveler off to their next multinational adventure. The airline industry needs any and every burst of life and energy it can get its hands on, and the Boeing 787 offers airlines and travelers a new design that will hopefully bring a little excitement back into traveling.
To many, the 787 will look like every large airplane they've ever flown in. The 787 has the now standard 2 engines slid neatly under the wings, windows above not below the wings, and all the standard proportions most have come to expect. In fact, many would have a hard time telling a 777 and 787 apart, can you?
787 777
So what makes this new airplane so special?
So what makes this new airplane so special?
- For Pilots, a revolutionary flight deck - normally only seen in top biz jets such as the G5
- The most advanced aerodynamic technology available on any commercial airliner (my opinion)
- Full fly by wire technology with all the computerized safeguards. (Airbus has been using this for years though it’s somewhat new to Boeing)
- Highly fuel efficient General Electric or Rolls Royce engines
- 20% reduction in overall operating costs
- Dynamic LED interior lighting
- Lower cabin altitude
- Modern Design
- Cool Factor
For me, as a pilot, the first thing that really caught my eye was the cockpit with its ultra-modern flat screen computerized control panel. For many veteran pilots I'm guessing the over computerization of the cockpits is seen as simply getting in the way of the actual flying, however, I know that behind the pretty screens, lies a wealth of information including weather avoidance, anti-collision tech, digital charts including both taxi diagrams as well as approach procedure charts, terrain avoidance, and so much more.The airline industry has been a seemingly terrible place to point career goals over the last ten years. In fact, Captain Sully Sullenburger has noted that many current airline pilots wouldn't reccomend a career as a pilot to their children. Many of my friends seem to question my airline career objectives as they are already quickly climbing up corporate ladders, myself, still trying to find a way to pay for instrument and commercial flight training while working a stagnant job. For me, the 787 is proof that all is not stagnant in the airline world, it offers me something to aspire to as a young aviator. Maybe life on the line will be the same in the 787 as in any other airplane, but somehow I get the feeling that with the introduction of the 787 to airlines, we are entering a new era in aviation, where long standing rules are changing and new ideas are making their way to the consumer in tangible form. In a way, airline travel seems to be both at its worst point ever, and also on the verge of improvement.
The combination of a series of highly publicized airline crashes, coupled with a TSA regulatory structure that has gone far beyond invasive, has led to a slow, though real re-vamping of the airline system. To quickly list a few of the recent and upcoming changes to the airline system . . . here we go:
· Airlines are required to pay steep penalties if passengers remain grounded in the airplane for more than three hours prior to takeoff
· Airlines will soon be required to include all extra fees and taxes into their total advertised flight price as well as clearly estimate checked baggage total trip costs
· Airlines will soon be required to ensure their pilots receive a proper sleep period between each work day and will be more limited as to how long a pilot can remain on duty during the day
· Additional pressure on the TSA to develop passenger screening systems that can work towards bringing dignity back to the security process
· Industry-wide pressure on the government to stabilize jet fuel prices so the industry doesn't continue to have bust-survive-bust cycles.
· New security lines for trusted travelers as well as airline crew that will help reduce the queue for all travelers
For me, the 787 represents the newest thinking in commercial aircraft construction and takes to the skies at a time when a lot of new thinking is coming to the airline process, combined, it could create a significantly improved experience for travelers in the future.
Passengers, even those who will never truly appreciate the freshness of design that the Dreamliner represents, will benefit from the improvements that Boeing has brought to the aircraft design. Boeing has worked hard on many changes to the passenger experience, including larger windows with fading glass similar in technology to prescription glasses that darken in daylight, helping to reduce glare as well as keeping temperatures down, LED lighting that the cabin crew can change to the airlines color & design goals, and a greater cabin space due to a new fuselage design. But those improvements are just little extras.
One of the biggest changes to the passenger experience that the 787 will bring comes from the fact that the 787 is almost entirely built out of composites. In a traditional metal airplane, such as the 737, cabin air is kept fairly dry to ensure that there are no corrosion issues with the metal structure due to moisture buildup. In the 787, the composite construction doesn't have the same corrosion issues so it can maintain a more standard humidity level. Additionally, the 787 will be able to maintain a lower cabin altitude so there is less ear popping on the way up to cruise altitude.
I know that for many, this will be just another airplane that they have to board, to get from here to there, but I think it's more than that. I have to applaud Boeing for the effort they put into this plane to ensure not only that the airlines are profitable based on improvements in fuel efficiency, but for placing so much focus on the human environment to ensure that we are as healthy and rested when we land as possible. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I'm excited, and I sincerely hope that I will have the opportunity to fly in one at some point, and maybe, just maybe if I play my cards right, I'll have an opportunity to fly the great Dreamliner one day as well. Here's to hoping!!
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