Aviation
Exploring the Boeing 777x: Highlights from the Debut at Wings India
Boeing unveiled its Boeing 777x at Wings India for the first time after securing an order from India. We were thrilled to receive a warm welcome during our visit to Boeing at Wings India and had several inquiries.
During our tour with Jetline Marvel, we explored the Boeing 777x, delving into its interior cabin and inspecting the aircraft’s exterior. The Boeing staff at Wings India were exceptionally friendly.
As we strolled around the aircraft at Wings India, we noted its massive landing gears, reminiscent of those on the Boeing 777-300er. However, these were connected with new devices inside the brakes and an enhanced version of landing gears. An orange-colored wire was linked to various sensors located on the landing gears, displaying the aircraft system for testing and ensuring reliability.
Moving on to the wings, we observed the impressive wing structure made predominantly of composite materials, marking it as the largest wing for any commercial aircraft ever built.
Notably, the Boeing 777x boasts a wing-tip folding option, similar to the wing-folding feature found in the Fighter jet F18 aircraft. This innovation allows the aircraft to be efficiently parked on flight decks, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
Experimental aircraft
The tail wing of the Boeing 777x is equipped with cameras positioned in the middle, providing views of the landing gears and other critical areas during emergencies. Additionally, a camera is fitted just before the nose landing gear for continuous aircraft monitoring.
Entering the aircraft, we discovered a comfortably cool interior with minimal seating. The focus was on instrumentation and equipment arranged for monitoring the aircraft’s flight conditions, with some seats strategically placed in different surrounding areas.
The aircraft is equipped with ballistic water tanks to balance weight ratios during flights. b777 vs b747 tanks are located both inside the cabin and at the front portion, ensuring optimal balance throughout the aircraft.
a350 vs 777
In comparison to the boeing 777 vs airbus a350, the Boeing 777 features windows that are notably larger in size, providing passengers with an expanded and more panoramic view of the surroundings during the flight.
Boeing 777x has a Larger window
The Boeing 777X boasts larger windows compared to the Airbus A350, providing passengers with enhanced views, as evident in the accompanying image. Boeing asserts that these windows offer more expansive views than those of competing aircraft. According to reliable sources, these windows will feature an Automatic Brightness System, similar to the one found in the Boeing 787 aircraft.
Boeing 777x Engine
The Boeing 777x engine has set a world record, generating an impressive 134,300 pounds of thrust, capable of lifting a colossal 351.5-tonne aircraft with its twin engines. General Electric (GE) embraced the challenge of constructing such a massive-scale engine, surpassing the size of any other aircraft engine, a necessity to accommodate the substantial payload capacity.
Boeing 777x can 550 passengers
According to the Boeing team, this test flight is a rare occurrence driven by demand. Notably, the aircraft can accommodate 550 passengers, making it Boeing’s largest-ever aircraft. Currently undergoing certification, the aircraft is expected to be operational before 2025. Emirates Airlines is set to be the first operator of the Boeing 777X.
Aerospace
India is set to build a central command for the Air Traffic Control system, called ISHAN
India’s air traffic growth has led to increased responsibilities for air traffic control. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering centralizing air traffic control for aircraft, dividing the country into four regions. The goal is to consolidate India’s segmented airspace into a single entity to improve air traffic management (ATM) efficiency, safety, and smoothness.
Recently, the AAI invited expressions of interest to develop a detailed project report for the Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) initiative in Nagpur. Under this plan, air traffic controllers in Nagpur would handle domestic flights flying above 25,000 feet, eliminating the need for coordination among controllers in different regions.
For domestic regional flights operating above 25,000 feet, control would shift to the central command in Nagpur. This consolidation aims to enhance airline operations, increase flight handling capacity, and reduce congestion and flight times for passengers.
Currently, the AAI provides ATM services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas, covering over 2.8 million square nautical miles. This airspace is divided into four flight information regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, along with a sub-FIR in Guwahati.
FIRs are responsible for providing air traffic services, including weather information, visibility, and search and rescue assistance. The proposed unification under the ISHAN initiative aligns with the projected growth of the aviation industry, which anticipates a doubling of domestic passenger traffic by 2030.
Aviation
Airbus is set to increase the production rate for the A350 as demand surges
Airbus SE is set to boost production of its advanced A350 widebody jet as it capitalizes on rising demand for long-distance travel and wide-body aircraft, amidst the ongoing crisis affecting its competitor Boeing due to issues with the B737 Max.
The surge in orders for Airbus’s A350 aircraft has instilled confidence in the company, prompting them to ramp up production rates. This move is particularly advantageous as Boeing continues to grapple with production quality issues surrounding its 787 and 777x aircraft.
In 2024 alone, Airbus has received 137 orders for the A350, signaling a need to expand manufacturing capabilities to meet customer demands. With 1,277 orders received and 592 aircraft delivered as of April 2024, Airbus is poised to fulfill pending deliveries efficiently.
The European aircraft manufacturer announced plans to increase production of A350 jets to 12 per month by 2028, surpassing earlier projections aiming for 10 per month by 2026. This decision was disclosed alongside the company’s first-quarter figures.
The Asian market is proving lucrative for the A350, with significant orders from airlines like Indigo and Air India, totaling nearly 70 aircraft commitments for the future. Meanwhile, Airbus is progressing with its A220 and A320 programs, aiming for a monthly production rate of 14 and 75 aircraft, respectively, by 2026. Additionally, the long-range A321XLR is anticipated to commence service in the third quarter of the current year.
In contrast, Boeing has been compelled to scale back production due to regulatory pressures aimed at enhancing factory processes. While Airbus anticipates a positive market outlook, Boeing continues to face challenges with FAA certification and quality approvals, resulting in ongoing delays for its 737 Max and 777x models.
Financially, Boeing reported a significant cash burn of $3.9 billion in the first quarter, leaving it with $7.5 billion in cash and short-term securities by the quarter’s end, down from $16 billion at the beginning of the year. Consequently, Boeing’s stock has plummeted by 38% in the year so far, contrasting with Airbus’s 14% gain, marking Boeing’s lowest performance in over a year.
For a full listing including details on customers and regions, as well as historical data for the previous year, go to the download section below.
- March 2024 deliveries: 63 deliveries to 32 customers
- March 2024 gross orders: 137
- 2024 deliveries to date: 142 deliveries to 45 customers
Single-Aisle | A300/A310 | A330 | A340 | A350 | A380 | TOTAL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Orders | 19470 | 816 | 1774 | 377 | 1277 | 251 | 23965 |
Total Deliveries | 11705 | 816 | 1598 | 377 | 592 | 251 | 15339 |
Aircraft in Operation | 11007 | 271 | 1482 | 202 | 591 | 234 | 13787 |
Aviation
All passengers killed in plane crash, after pilot let his children to control the plane
When boarding a plane, passengers entrust their safety to the skilled hands of the pilot. However, tragedy struck when one of the flight ended in disaster as all passengers lost their lives in a horrific plane crash.
In 1994, during a flight from Moscow to Hong Kong, tragedy struck as an Aeroflot relief pilot made a fateful decision. In a move that would have devastating consequences, the pilot invited his own children into the cockpit to play with the controls. Little did anyone know, this seemingly innocent gesture would lead to the loss of all 75 lives aboard the aircraft.
It was a seemingly innocent act that led to catastrophic results. The relief pilot, Mr. Kudrinsky, invited his two children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 15, into the cockpit during the late hours of the night. Little did anyone know, this simple gesture would set off a chain of events that would end in tragedy.
Once in the cockpit, the children were allowed to sit in the captain’s chair and play with the controls, unaware that they should have been disabled as the plane was in autopilot mode.
Eldar, perhaps in a moment of curiosity or innocence, held the control column down for a mere 30 seconds. Yet, in those brief moments, the autopilot disengaged, thrusting the aircraft into manual control.
By the time the pilots regained their seats and attempted to regain control, it was too late. Despite their efforts to pull the plane out of a dive, they overcorrected, causing the flight to climb almost vertically, ultimately stalling it.
Final moment Flight 593 crash
In the final moments, as the pilots struggled to stabilize the aircraft, Flight 593 crashed into the Kuznetsk Alatau Mountain range in southern Russia, completely obliterating the plane and claiming the lives of everyone on board.
Investigations revealed a chilling truth: there was no evidence of technical failure. Instead, the crash was attributed to the unthinkable decision to allow inexperienced hands to manipulate the controls of a commercial aircraft.
The black box recording captured the harrowing sequence of events, providing a grim reminder of the human cost of a lapse in judgment. In just over two minutes, the lives of all on board were tragically short, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and unanswered questions.