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Boeing 787 Dreamliner Makes First Passenger Flight
After years of delays in production, technical worries, and technical advances, Zothecula writes with this excerpt that says "The 787 Dreamliner has entered commercial service. The mid-size airliner's first passenger-carrying outing took place earlier today when Boeing's launch customer All Nippon Airways flew 240 passengers on a four and a half hour charter flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Two hour-long 'domestic excursion flights' out of Tokyo are planned for October 28 and 29 before regular domestic flights commence on November 1."
They will replace all the seats with much smaller ones, So the next flight can carry 500 people. They will get rid of the cool colors and go with 1970's beige and bland lighting. And what ever else they can think of to make sure flying isn't enjoyable.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
The charter was yesterday, and covered by many more reputable sources including the BBC.
Very true. However, we are ALL at fault. As long as people shop by price and not quality it will be a race to the bottom for airline service and comfort.
I support better service by using airlines that offer economy plus and pay the extra money. Do you?
Part of the problem is that truth in advertizing went out the window ages ago in this country. The only decision factor that can actually be nailed down as factual is the price, so that's what everyone decides on.
Have you shopped for an airline ticket recently? I don't think price can be nailed down very easily either...
Asian airlines are always the first to buy new airplanes. Their fleets are always newer than what you'll find with American airline companies. And having traveled a good bit over the years, I've always found service on Asian airlines light years beyond what's offered by carriers here, at the same price point. American flight attendants tend to be pissy, rude and impatient even on shorter flights. If you happen to sit near the back you're privy to them complaining about work. On the Asian airlines, even on 18 hour flights, the flight attendants have always been courteous and helpful. They're as friendly near the end of the flight as they were at the start.
It's pretty sad that an economy so heavily based on service is so bad at it. Now wonder American airline companies are always struggling to be profitable. But I suppose it's good that a plane built in the US, well at least parts of it, still sells.
But who really cares. As long as the flight is safe, most people don't care if they have an uncomfortable seating for a few hours. I wouldn't mind standing up like on the SkyRider if it meant the flight would only cost half as much. Not everyone is looking for a luxury vacation all the time. Sometimes, people just want to get where they are going. If I wanted a nice journey, I wouldn't take a plane to begin with.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Based on the segment on the TV news last night, it doesn't appear that the lights are intended to be used as in the photo in the article. I'd guess that display and photo are to showcase the range of colors that can be displayed. The TV news segment alluded to the lighting colors being used to make the passengers calm and comfortable especially on long flights. The lighting would be changed gradually during the course of the flight. The psychological effects of color have been researched for sometime, it's interesting to seem that research put to another practical use.
Have you shopped for an airline ticket recently? I don't think price can be nailed down very easily either...
Indeed. Last time I flew the ticket was around $400 and then there was about a $600 'fuel surcharge'. It's as though I'm supposed to believe I can fly across the Atlantic and back without using any fuel.
Then, of course, there was the $25 for an overweight bag, the $50 for a second bag, etc, etc, etc.
So prices are very difficult to determine without going through the full booking process and checking the small print.
I must say, I have not. I'd be too tempted to give the TSA a snappy Seig Heil.
Hmm, what reality is your post from? ANA is an airline, they have requirements but they do no engineering. Not sure how you think ANA "stepped in" to save the day...
I wish it were possible (FAA Regs would be a serious problem) to have the slide in beds like in the Fifth Element for red-eye flights. I can never sleep worth a damn when sitting bolt upright with no head support (and those stupid neck pillows don't work) and it makes the whole flight a chore. If I could lay down for the flight I would be much happier.
I read the internet for the articles.
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but there really are very, very few airliners that are actually beautiful. I think Boeing have finally built a beautiful airliner, and it's the wing that makes the 787 so beautiful, from its graceful curve in-flight, to the tapered winglets and the high aspect ratio that makes the aircraft look very reminiscent of a modern carbon fibre glider, to even things like the flight deck windows which blend into the design.
As I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but these are probably the only airliners I would actually call "beautiful":
- Lockheed Constellation, with its gracefully curved and tapering fuselage (from an era where everyone else's airliner looked like a sausage with wings).
- Concorde. I don't think I need to explain. (No, the Tu-144 doesn't qualify, although superficially similar to Concorde as in it has delta wings, it's actually pretty ugly - the wing doesn't have Concorde's graceful 3 dimensional shape, the flight deck windows just look awful and those canards...good grief).
- And now the Boeing 787.
Yes, there are probably others that people find beautiful of course, and I've probably missed or forgotten some (I think the last version of the Comet, the Comet 4 strongly qualifies with the engines hidden in the wings) but the three above are the ones I find most aesthetically pleasing.
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I must say, I have not. I'd be too tempted to give the TSA a snappy Seig Heil.
And you'd be well within your rights under the Constitution to do that very thing.. However in our current bat-shit insane world, you'd be hassled, likely arrested, and prevented from boarding your flight, and put on a "list".. Those of us who see clearly how insanely UNamerican the whole DHS/TSA thing is, seem to be the minority anymore. I hear endless cries of "if you don't want to be inspected, just don't fly".. ummm... no... The Constitution does not say "4th Amendment only applies to non-flying citizens".. Unless those of us who understand clearly whats happening to this country stand up against this b.s, we're gonna get a brandnew name in the very new future.. United Socialist States Of America or perhaps "People's Republic of Amerka".. Anybody thinking I'm being dramatic, get your flippin' head out of the sand and see what's RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES!!!
THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
American fleets are required to not look at age, etc. In addition, they can no longer insist on the no-marriage, lose job after age 30 or 40, etc. In asia, they have the same old rules that America had back in the 60's. Europe is fairly similar to Asia, but not by design. For example, you will find that in europe, most of the FAs are NOT married. The norm for many nations is that a woman works when single, but quits upon marriage and certainly quits while raising kids. That is why when you fly german Lufthansa, it is male FAs. Once the women are in their late 30s and wanting to return the european airlines will NOT hire them.
As to American fleets, the older housewife FAs fly the short domestic routes, so that they are home at nights. The internationals pay a BIT more, but not enough to entice them. Most of the internationals are junior FAs, OR have no kids(BTW, this is the exact opposite of the cockpit; those guys have SENIORITY). So, you will find that most of the FAs on all international flights are pretty decent, though at the moment, Asian and middle eastern fleets are younger and nicer.
Finally, I have to say that my Dad is retired AA capt. while my sister is working at USAirways. I grew up flying AA but rarely do it anymore for domestic. The same is true for United. I used to prefer Frontier, but now go with SouthWest. The FAs ARE friendlier and happier and it reflects in how ppl are treated. But for going europe, I take United or American 777s. Best plane going with great service.
BTW, skip ryan air. THEY SUX.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Congratulations, you discovered that Boeing gave work parcels to Japan - which was in the plan from day one. As the other poster says, this doesn't support your comment about ANA however. How about *you* look up the facts - I've been following the 787 from before it was publicly announced.
It's not just airlines that do this though, everything in the US is advertised at a misleading price. You go into a news agent and the packet of gum that says $2 on the shelf actually costs $2.20 or something. It's baffling to me how advertising as if taxes and other charges don't exist can be legal and not fall afoul of consumer protection laws that prohibit misleading and deceptive conduct.
Airlines in Australia have to advertise their flights at the actual price that you have to pay, whereas in the US you have to click through 3-5 pages in the ordering process, possibly registering beforehand before they'll actually tell you the real price, as opposed to the price for some imaginary world where you don't have to pay taxes or airport fees or anything else.
The 787 was behind schedule due to engineering and manufacturing issues
Yep.
ANA wanted a realized version of the design
As did all of the other companies.
ANA strikes a deal with Boeing - ANA hires out and pays for the remaining portions of the 787 to get it into production
[Citation needed]
ANA chooses the right companies,
[Citation needed]
the re-engineered and realized parts go beyond even Boeing's designs/specifications
[Citation needed]
787's go into production, ANA gets the first batch
ANA got the first batch because it was the first one to place an order, not because of any supposed "engineering" work you claim it did.
The meek may inherit the earth, but the strong shall take the stars.