'Dreamliner'

Passengers will soon experience what it’s like to travel on board an amazing aircraft touted as the “dream of dreams” – Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Despite the numerous delays and problems that have plagued the production of the 787, Boeing continues to be optimistic that the aircraft will finally make its first flight by yearend, with delivery to commence by the last quarter of 2010.

And it seems Boeing is pulling all stops to turn the aircraft into the most comfortable for passengers though a number of design and technological innovations. A mid-sized, wide bodied, twin engine airliner, the Dreamliner can seat from 240 to 296 passengers depending on the class configuration. It has wider seats and aisles that can give passengers more wiggle room, plus it has more spacious luggage bins. The internal cabin pressure will also be increased to the equivalent of 6,000 feet altitude instead of the usual 8,000 feet in conventional aircraft. The cabin is climate controlled with the humidity higher compared to other commercial jetliners, which can help reduce dryness in the mouth and eyes that usually cause a lot of discomfort to passengers.

Designers obviously meant to impress, incorporating sweeping arches, wide windows and a simulated sky ceiling that can change in color and brightness in the Dreamliner’s interiors, perhaps knowing that first impressions certainly last. It’s also worth noting that passengers with mobility and sensory problems have been taken into consideration. For instance, the aircraft has a convertible lavatory that has a movable center wall that turns two separate lavatories into one big facility that is accessible to those on wheelchairs.

Industry observers noted a radical approach that Boeing took in building the Dreamliner: making use of lighter and stronger composite materials instead of the metal traditionally used in other aircraft. We’ve been told the 787 has 35 tons of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, with composite materials used on the fuselage, wings, doors and interiors while titanium is used mainly on the engines. All these have made the Dreamliner a very “light” aircraft in this sense – but definitely not a lightweight when it comes to capacity and efficiency.

According to an Air Europa executive, the 787 is probably the best solution for their requirements when it comes to a superior aircraft that offers “better efficiency, better environmental performance and excellent comfort for passengers,” adding that they anticipate the aircraft to deliver the best economics at the same time. 

As a matter of fact, there are those who are saying the Dreamliner is more practical than the Airbus 380. Industry observers say the approach between the two aircraft makers concerning problems such as fuel efficiency, for instance, has been totally different. Airbus’ approach has been “bigger is better” – producing a huge airplane like the A380 for its long haul trips, carrying more passengers in just one flight where two was needed before.

On the other hand, Boeing opted for flexibility, seen in the three versions of the 787 that it is developing. The 787-3 for instance is meant for shorter distances with a large passenger capacity, while the 787-8 and the 787-9 are designed for longer trips although they carry lesser passengers to maintain fuel efficiency.

Over the years, the competition between Boeing and Airbus has been fierce not only in terms of market share and demand for both commercial and military planes. Today, that competition has been elevated on the legal level, with Boeing alleging that its European counterpart has received billions in aid from the European government to make it the world’s number one producer of commercial airplanes. Naturally, the United States argues that the subsidy is illegal – which has given the European competitor of Boeing an unfair boost. The World Trade Organization is yet to release a ruling regarding the issue.

Meantime, Boeing continues to receive a lot of orders for its airplanes, including the 787, despite the delays and other problems that have plagued the production of the Dreamliner. The Philippine Airlines for one is getting a total of six Boeing 777 aircraft at a cost of $250 million each to boost its fleet, with two of the aircraft due to arrive this November.

With the 777s, PAL will have the capability of flying farther with a lot less fuel consumption. The Boeing 777-300ER can carry up to 365 passengers on a long haul flight from Manila to Los Angeles and back to Manila non-stop without any need for refueling. According to a Boeing executive, the 777’s techno-logically advanced design is responsible for overall aerodynamic and fuel efficiency. The aircraft also has the most spacious passenger cabin in its class with wider seats and aisles, more headroom and more seating flexibility.

Despite the global recession that has severely hit the airline industry, PAL has not compromised on the safety and comfort of its passengers. As PAL president and CEO Jimmy Bautista has said, these are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary measures – and part of the strategy has been to realign capacity to match demand particularly in the domestic sector.

Despite numerous constraints, PAL has continued to stay afloat, and credit largely goes to Jimmy Bautista who is undoubtedly one of the best CEOs there is. People who know Jimmy say that he is a good, honest man – and Lucio Tan is certainly lucky to have him.

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