Topic: Commercial Aviation News

[GeNe]

Restarted the Commercial Aviation Thread with breaking news on the result of the cockpit analysis for the TAM crash in Brazil last month. Looks like the spoilers failed to actuate. The fact that one thrust reverser was inactive would not have caused the crash on its own.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/02/215869/full-cockpit-voice-transcript-of-tam-a320-reveals-clues-to-crash.html

[GeNe]

An excellent article on the dilemmas facing Boeing in bringing out a larger version of the new 787 to complete against Airbus's new A350.  Since the A350 is placed to complete against the 787-9 and the 777 families, Boeing has to decide whether to create a 787-10 or to update the 777 instead.

From the Seattle Times

[GeNe]

Look like the 787's first flight will be pushed back until October now, though Boeing still thinks it may be able to deliver the first airplane by May 2008. That's a very compressed flight test schedule (only 8 months). To put this in perspective, the last new plane that Boeing made was the 777, and that flight schedule was more like 11 months.

linky

[GeNe]

Emirates may be close to signing a deal for 747-800s from Boeing. The 747-8 is an extended version of the venerable 747-400, using a newer wing as well as the new engines designed for the 787.

This is important because Boeing has been marketing the 747-8 not as a competitor to the larger A380, but as an "in-between" plane between the 777 and the A380.

Lufthansa is the only carrier that has ordered the 747-8 in the commercial version, and they plan to use it in conjunction with their A380s. The same would be true of Emirates, validating Boeing's strategy of placing the 747-8 is a supplemental rather than competitive role w.r.t. the A380.

FlightGlobal Reports...

[GeNe]

Boeing has lost 10% of its market value over the last month due to the market slides; I think people are worried that if the economy fails, the airlines will get hit hard, and they won't place orders for new planes. Hold on tight, it's about to get bumpy.

[GeNe]

787 first flight is delayed again due to the large amount of temporary fasteners that we put in to keep the rollout on 7/8/07 on time. Also, they are dealing with software glitches in the flight control system. They still think that ontime delivery in May 2008 is attainable. They would have to certify the plane in 5 months; 777 was 11-14 months.

Little Room for Error

[GeNe]

It's been a while since I updated this thread, mainly because there has been a lull while the A380 is being readied for delivery and the 787 for first flight.

But today, in HUGE news, British Airways announced a highly anticipated order for 12 A380 Super-Jumbos and 18 787-8s.

This is a MASSIVE endorsement of the A380 against the 747-8. While the 787 order is nice, analysts have said that no premium airline will go without the 787....over 50 in the world have ordered over 700 of the aircraft. However, the 747-8, which is smaller than the A380, only has 20 orders from Lufthansa for the Passenger Version. The Freighter Version has 65 orders and is in good shape.

One of the driving forces behind the A380 decision is that Heathrow is one of the most crowded airports in the world. Getting landing slots there is extremely expensive and difficult. BA currently operates the largest 747 fleet in the world, with 54 in service. The A380 will allow it to grow its high density routes without adding new aircraft. The A380 typically seats 650, whereas BA's old 747 seat 351. The 747-8 were pitched to seat about 400-450 passengers in a 3-cabin layout.

Another rumoured reason is that the A380 comes with wings made in Britain, as well as the option for Rolls-Royce engines. The 747-8 on the other hand only has one engine choice, GE. The lack of any British components may have played a role in the decision, though this is merely speculative.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Financial Times

[crazyjohnson]

Hey GeNe,

I went to Seattle a few weekends ago, and saw the Boeing Dreamlifter sitting out by the highway at Boeing Field.  It was freaking huge.  Pretty cool plane.

[GeNe]

Hey GeNe,

I went to Seattle a few weekends ago, and saw the Boeing Dreamlifter sitting out by the highway at Boeing Field.  It was freaking huge.  Pretty cool plane.

Yeah, it's a crazy aircraft; just think about how much extra drag it incurs with all that bulbous cabin crap going on.

FYI, I read a very interesting article about the B-2 Bomber. Did you guys know that more people have gone to SPACE than have flown in the B2? That's what I would spend $1.2billion on. Screw space...get me a stealth bomber.

[GeNe]

I'm sure some of you have heard that Boeing has announced a Six Month delay to the 787 program. First flight will now be a the end of the first quarter in 2008, and they do not expect delivery until November or December 2008.

They have said that it will not materially affect earnings, though they will have to make some penalty payments. ANA and Quantas, two of the earlier and larger customers, said that they were not concerned about the delay, because they still have aircraft that will keep flying until the 787s replace them.

Emirates, which is evaluating a 100 plane order, said that the delay would not affect their decision between the A350 and the 787, because their delivery slots would be beyond 2014.

Boeing Delays 787 program by 6 months

[GeNe]

Sorry a few days late, the A380 has been delivered to launch customer Singapore Airlines. Its initial revenue flight will be from Singapore to Sydney.

[kerchief]

Thou Darest bring Late News?  For this Offense shalt thou Forthwith forfeit Thine Office.  Yea and Likewise Vacate thine Place in This Land, Via Yon Stout Oak and a goodly length of Rope!

[raVen]

In commericial aviation news today .

All the major airlines reported shock and regret that raVen hadnt bought a ticket with them for a while . Guess what #%$%#%s raVen has wings .

[GeNe]

STOP HIJACKING MY NEWS THREAD YOU GODLESS SPAWN OF SATAN'S WHORES.

[crazyjohnson]

GEEZ, way to over-react GeNe!