Aeroplanes

[SweetWilliam]

Originally Posted by dawsey

Thanks for that Pabs.

One last question if you don't mind 5555555

What is your opinion (if any) of the new A380 and Boeing Dreamliner with regard to fitting in with current air travel? Too big? a good idea carrying up to 800 passengers, or you don't give a flying f.... 5555

I know ya asked someone else. Yes the 380 will be a nightmare. 1600+ bags to offload, and get to other flights, or god forbid baggage claim. More room needed at the terminal, both inside, and for the plane itself. Double decker jetways maybe. And it better have enough toilets.

Meanwhile the 787 Dreamliner looks like it will be a hit. There are at least three different configurations, and one will carry up to 330 passengers. They will use 20% less fuel than todays simular sized aircraft. Not only a hit, this aircraft will be a home run.

Not a pilot, but I do fly alot.
SW

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by SweetWilliam

I know ya asked someone else.

Its nice to hear everyones opinions. When these big airliners are up and running, we will all be using them.

[MrDK]

It is going to be interesting to see how and if the A380 project survives. First of, I think it will survive, but it is going to be a rough road for Airbus S.A.S.

So far the project is 2 years behind schedule; last one-year delay due to wiring problems. A one-year delay at the design stage for wiring is major. Nothing compared to similar problem that Boeing faced (767) with overloaded entertainment systems that brought down Swiss Air 101 near the Canadian coast.

Besides all the issues of airport modifications that are necessary to accommodate planes, passengers and luggage (+cargo); one of the bigger advantages of the A380 is the cargo capability where cost per weight is key. In the immediate future there are only 3 companies that can justify the A380F: FedEx, UPS and DHL. FedEx has canceled its order for 10+15 planes. UPS once announced cancellation of 10+15, then renounced it were reconsidering. DHL never (I believe) placed orders for A380. The net result could be that it will be a long time before A380F will fly (Est 2014).

Other airlines have canceled orders. Emirates (the largest buyer) has canceled or delayed orders for up to 43 planes. Singapore Airline have threatened (probably will not) to cancel. At the least Airbus has had to (or will) settle with many customers in the order of billions of dollars.

This project has taken it's toll on Airbus, including a complete management restructure. While I do think the A380 ultimately will eventually be a success it has allowed, and will continue to allow, Boeing to focus on less prestigious, but more profitable ventures, such as the 787, a future replacement for the 737, regional jets to compete with Canadair and Embraer and military projects.

[MrDK]

Pablo, I cannot comment on much of the intelligence you have as a pilot, after all I am just a passenger. I know relatively little about pilot/management/union interactions, even though my friend an neighbor is a 767/777 pilot for UAL.

My best argument is statistics. I came across this web site: Accident statistics. As far as I can see the number of various types of accidents have held fairly constant decade by decade since the 50's, yet the amount of air traffic has increase many-fold.

A more personal, not so quantifiable, observation. When I started traveling heavily in the early 80's it seems that there were a little more than 2 crashes by major carriers per year in the US on average; now it is seems less than one per year.

I personally fly Delta Airlines on almost all domestic and Atlantic flights. Other than an MD-80 event (1996) where a failing engine killed 2 passengers before take-off, they have not had a fatality accident in 19 years.

While there are more and more stories about mishaps and near misses, I personally see air travel increasingly safer and safer. Maybe the pilots should take a lot of that credit, but statistics is statistics.

[pablo]

Oh, I agree with you MRDk.

Commercial aviation IS the safest way to travel.

As for the MD80 series, just stating my (and a lot of other's) personal observations.

And, as for sleepy pilot's....more sleepy pilot's now, than before.

Glad I'm done with it. Not the job (now), that I signed up for...way back when????5555


Pablo

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by pablo

Anyone who's done this, and won't admit to an occasional "doze-off", I don't believe them.

Pablo

News item on UK tv yesterday was about the fact that more and more pilots fall asleep at the controls. The pilots cover up for each other which means that no-one knows for sure how often it happens.

[RobRoy]

I've heard, only heard mind, that there's a gadget for drivers that wakes you if you nod off.
I want one, I'm definitely prone to white line fever on long drives.