A Tip of the Iceberg: Will the Boeing 787 Sink or Float?

About a year ago I went to an Aviation doctor to get medically certified to fly planes.  We talked about how Boeing was one of our favorite manufacturers, and as a result the 787 happen to come up in conversation.  Not only did this come up because Boeing's new plane is the 787, but my examiner actually invested money towards the new plane.  At the time, I laughed a little and joke about its delays, which, as you can imagine, was a little awkward. But, really, why in the hell would I laugh about such a thing?  Not only is this man determining my future as a pilot, has the same passion for airplanes, and has been involved with aviation for years, but I also laughed at Boeing's new plane; a company that for over a century has made great quality aircraft and serves as America's contribution towards civil aviation against Europe's strong competitor Airbus.  Well, here's one of the newest 787's off the lot:

This is an Air India 787 currently being made.  And, by the way, Air India is not the launch consumer.  It was ANA (All Nippon Airways) that wanted this plane to be built... back on April 26th, 2004!  If you're confused, don't worry, because this is bizarre even for plane lovers alike.  So, where's the snag?  What's going on with this project in the first place?  Why haven't they been flying all these years?  It seems that in our day and age we have the ability to bang out planes like none other.  To better understand what's going on, we need to understand why this plane is being built in the first place.

True, this plane was designed to kill some of Boeing's old planes such as the 757, 767, and even the jumbo 747.  However, a key point to remember is if they're trying to kill the 747, more than likely they're trying to kill their previous bird: the Boeing 777 (which is slowly killing the 747).  If you don't already know, the 777 is a VERY successful aircraft and was the first to be fully tested using computers before it ever flew.  When the 777 was made, huge steps in technology were made that allowed us to create better methods of aircraft design and helped manufacturers to safely test new aircraft.  So, why the hell get rid of all these planes including the 777?  Simple:

1. Airlines want a new, state-of-the-art plane to use less fuel to get the job done.

Boeing's answer:  several models of a new plane made of 80% composite material; the 787.  At a glance, this was a tight idea.  Instead of a metal box, airlines would use something close to a paper plane to perform at the same level.  So, why is there a big issue?  One word: Delamination.

First off, do not be terrified when you see this picture.  What this is is an example of what happens when composite materials fails under pressure.  This is something that Boeing has known for quite some time.  However, this is the reason why you haven't flown on a 787.  The main complaint stemmed from how the body and wing of the 787 were stressed under various flying conditions.  To give a better picture, when a truck is made, the cab (where you sit) and the bed (where you put everything else) are separate.  Manufacturer's essentially weld them together.  It's the same principal with the body (where you sit) and wing (how you fly).  The area connecting the two was weak and threw Boeing engineers for a loop.  This scared them because composite materials, as opposed to various forms of metal, possess one scary attribute:

1. Composite materials do not visibly show signs of cracks or fatigue.

80% of your plane does not tell you what's going on... Yes, scream and freak out as much as you want, but Boeing wouldn't put a product out that they weren't making money on, so the 787 should be safe.  However, you may find me on any other type of plane before you see me on a 787.  

So, final words from me?  As I would tell any person afraid to fly, don't worry.  Airlines wouldn't have humans fly and run planes if they knew planes were death traps.  Plus, airliners fly on the money passengers give them.  So, if I had to fly on a 787, I'd be grateful to fly on a new plane and would probably enjoy it.  Would it be my first choice?  Well, as I think of that doctor who invested in it, I'm not sure if I'd put my money down on such a proposition.  

In Plane Detail, Number 1: The Fokker Series 28, 70 and 100

Part of the reason I started this blog was to get people from outside of the realm of airplane freaks to understand just a little more of why us plane enthusiasts love these hunks of metal so much.  So, for this installment, I decided to take a look at one of my favorite airliners.

For your enjoyment, this here is a Fokker F28-4000, the most successful in the F28 series.  Why I picked this one specifically is because it's a very personal aircraft to me.  From '92 to '95 I lived in Balikpapen, Indonesia, due to my Dad worked for an oil company called Unocal (now extinct...).  If, by God's holy grace, you actually know of this town, you know it's only there because of oil.  There was nothing close to what you would find on a normal daily basis available in the town we lived in.  Mac and cheese, when I finally had it in my grasp, was like gold in that part of the world.  Our nearest escape to what I had grown up with was in the neighboring city/country of Singapore... which was ONLY available to us by this plane and airline specifically.  To us, it was our life boat back to civilization...

So, enough romantic bull crap from me, let's talk about the airplane itself!  Now, compared to other planes built back in the day, it did not stand out against the competition as being flashy or a hot comodity. It first flew only a month after the first flight of the Boeing 737 on May 9th, 1967.  The model number was F28-1000 and it could carry about 60-65 people.  It had a simple design and was made to transport smaller amounts of people on short-haul trips numerous times.  

Now, I could go on about what happened next and specifications and blah blah blah... but, I want to highlight two very important facts about this plane that in researching it made quite an impact on me.

First, the model, although changing it's name a few times, has been around forever.

May 1st, 1968

April 17th, 2011

True, it has changed over the years to keep up with modern specification (i.e. fly-by-wire, glass or computer cockpits, more efficient engines, etc.), but the style has had very little change.  It has kept it's goal of efficient, short-haul flights for decades and continues to be used.  The only argument I could think of is that the Boeing 737, as mentioned before, also has been around for just as long.  This brings me to my second point:  it has had a wide range of various airlines that have used this same airplane.  Here are two interesting examples to show you side by side:

Not to delve to much into politics, but I think it's a little remarkable that both these airlines have owned/still own this type of aircraft.  And, to go back to the top, not only did Pelita Air Services own this type of plane, but nearly every single Indonesian airline at one point owned this aircraft... which brings up an interesting point.  Aside from the range of countries using this aircraft,  mechanical and safety standards are starkly different in each country.  America being high, Iran mediocre, and Indonesia being one of the worst on the market (with almost all Indonesian airliners currently blacklisted by the European Union...).  To me, the dependability and strength of this airplane places it firmly in aviation history as a significant contribution to airline travel.

With this, it's also good to note that the B737 is also all over the globe...sigh...  As a Fokker enthusiast (please, minds out of the gutter for just a moment), this takes me down another notch, as both the two points I have presented have been ousted by the B737.  So, what does that mean?  Well, to me, the Fokker F28 in all of it's variants (F28, 70, 100) is a seriously underrated airplane.  At least in the United States, there's little knowledge of this aircraft's existence when it deserves all the recognition it can get.  I guess that's why I wanted to write this blog post after I saw this picture:

When I found this picture, it reminded me of the times I flew to and from Singapore years and years ago, when everything was a dream and my vantage point came from a mix of reality and my own imagination.  This plane will always be on my thoughts...

So, was this entire post about my own personal obsession about this plane and, well, nothing else?  Kind of... but, I would like to point out that there are many planes out there, past and present, that are unsung heros in the aviation world being constantly overlooked.  Hopefully, I can bring to light some of these great planes in my "In Plane Detail" series.  If not, I guess I go back to ranting :D

The American Airline Stump: A Look Into the Dismal American Airliner Industry

No, I'm not talking just about American Airlines.  I'm talking about the entire industry itself.  It's sad that we, as a super power in the world, can't compete with other big airliners around the world.  Our seats are dirty, the flight attendants can help out if they had a good day, and ticket prices seem to be going up steadily without any big changes throughout the industry.  So, what the hell America?!  Why are standards for the passengers around the world having to put up with these decreasing standards day in and day out?  Well, here's the low down on what I think is going on.  Pay attention, you might learn something :D

A little over a year ago, salon.com put out an article about how various airlines are stacking up to themselves.  And, if you want to be my best friend, here's the article for you to read:

http://www.salon.com/technology/ask_the_pilot/2010/05/06/worlds_biggest_best_worst_airlines.

One fact that cannot be ignored is how much American airliners are making.  On their site, they listed the top grossing airlines based on comparing profit and fleet size.  Here are the top five:

1. Qantas
2. Lufthansa
3. Turkish Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
5. LAN (Chile, Peru, Ecuador)

If you live in the Los Angeles area, this may help to explain the bizarre new Turkish Airline ad's with none other than Kobe Brynt at the helm.

Well, I guess that's how the economy works these days.  Speaking of which, how the hell did these airlines make the top five and none of ours?!  Not that any of these airlines don't deserve to be at the top, but the only airline that comes close is Southwest at No. 8.  Now, do you think it's because of the lavish interiors and enticing look that Southwest possesses the reason it banks?  Hell no!  It's because:

1. They have exceptional customer service
2. Relatively cheap

Associated Press

Southwest fits right into the narrow margin that is the modern American economy.  So, why doesn't everyone follow their example?  Well, that's the issue, because, as an example, if you search kayak.com for flights you'll find all of the legacy careers and some smaller ones at top of the list for cheapest airfare.  So, what's the problem?  In a nutshell:

1. American airliners are TOO big to hold themselves up in our present economy.

Let's turn back the clock to the good old 1990's, where pilots were getting paid six figures and flying was a much more logical way to go cross country than to drive hours and hours on end to get to, let say, grandma's house... or girlfriend's house... or whatever kind of house you like to visit on holidays...  American airliners were at the top of their game and business was great.  Why, you ask.  Two reasons.

1. Everyone had good paying jobs
2. Gas was incredibly low

Now, what's different these days?  Oh, that's right...

1. Unemployment is high and it's nearly impossible to find jobs
2. Good God... gas is expensive

This is why you see the Delta/Northwest and United/Continental merges in recent history.  These poor bastards can't hold their own.  And, especially for the legacy careers, they have to fly domestic routes in one of the biggest countries in the world along with the world itself.  The amount of planes, employees, and revenue needed is staggering.  Our good economic high was killed by the greatest buzz kill of all time: the recession.  This is not to exclude 9/11 and terrorist threats from the equation, but after these horrific events, we still have airlines around the world with great products doing very well for themselves.

Associated Press

So, what's the solution?  Where do we go from here?  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure.  Downsizing is a logical approach, but with an industry of employees who posses a passion for their jobs I would never consider this as a possibility.  What in the end will save it, along with the American economy itself, is a change towards buying better products logically within our means , creating healthy competition between companies (which, frankly, is flippin' insane to ask for).  Otherwise, we will find ourselves swimming in the same (and progressively worse) shit for many years to come.  In the end, keep wise and do your best, as it results in progressive change... even for the American airline industry.

A Perplexing and Ultimately Startling Liverly

Last post I showed my gratitude for an airline who's new livery made a bold and honorable statement; an uncommon trait in an extremely business oriented form of art work.  In today's episode, I'd like to discuss a new livery making it's way into the airline industry that's, well, disturbingly austere.

Like a chimpanzee throwing it's own feces to make a statement, the higher up's of Continental and United decided for whatever ungodly reason to throw the United name onto the Continental livery.  It's quite remarkable how unremarkable and unoriginal this livery really is.  At least when Delta and Northwest merged, Delta mercifully and swiftly killed off the Northwest name from the face of the airline industry.  Although I do find it sad when any airline goes under, airline buffs around the world know that keeping alive any form of a defunct airline is a sad and disastrous error and, in the end, can bring shame to the glory of what the airline used to be.  Case and point:

As much as I'd like to see Pan Am flying again, it took FOUR attempts to finally realize that it's just impossible to bring to life something that has already died (plus, most of the airline enthusiasts worldwide don't have the time or money to help support a revival of that size).

So, what is United/Continental really thinking?  Well, you can find a blurb on United's website (http://www.united.com/page/genericpage/1,,53707,00.html?navSource=header&linkTitle=our_new_logo) which begins with the title "United's Evolving Brand".  Now, if by evolving you mean man advancing back to ape, this might be a fun discussion after a few drinks.  However, if you really want to show that you're really changing, you should come up with an entirely new image.  Or, like I mentioned before, you can follow Delta's efficient example:

Not only is it exciting as an airline enthusiast to see a 747 flying for Delta after 30 so odd years of absence, to me it shows that Delta is serious in becoming an efficient and reliable airline.  There's no reading between the lines with Delta's statement of becoming one of the most powerful players in the airline industry.

In the end, I do hope that United does pull through to become a key player in the international airline industry.  When I was a kid living abroad, it was United's 747's that transported me to Asia and back home to America, so I do have a soft spot for the airline. And, as always, I love the airline industry and support any and all competition to advance air travel worldwide.  I guess I'm just asking for United/Continental to take itself seriously by making themselves their own identity without having to blatantly profess their new relationship, which, as all teenage, puppy-love relationships result, leave themselves open to stark criticism if things go sour.  

Japan Airline's New Liverly More Surprising Than You Think

Japan has for years been a culture that strives for new and better in everything they do.  From new technology to competative products sold worldwide, there's nothing like Japan's determined will for good quality and sleek new design.  So when Japan Airlines announced earlier this year that it's coming out with a new livery, I wondered how much more modern and eye catching could they they get?  The result is something no airline in history has done before; they took a humble step back to revere Japan Airline's traditional and historical values.

As a fan of retro airline livery's, this picture of Japan Airlines newly painted Boeing 777-246 at Haneda blew my mind.  I couldn't believe that an airline of this size and global importance was taking such a bold stance with their image.  "Is this a joke?!  Are they running out of ideas? Maybe their marketing towards airline geeks worldwide..."  Well, thankfully, none of these thoughts were true.

To better understand what's going on, here's a quote from JAL Group President Masaru Onishi from a press release earlier this year: "Today, we firmly resolve to recapture the unity and challenging spirit that our employees possessed at the time of JAL's founding, and together, we will propel the company forward over the hurdles that lie ahead to again stand at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry."  With Japan Airlines' financial struggles and, yes, a rapidly changing financial future for airlines worldwide, Japan Airlines' bold new step to highlight their will and determination to move forward as a quality driven and vividly Japanese airline is moving and heartwarming.  With airlines scrambling to find new ways to sell more seats, it's nice to know that there is at least one airline not concerned with lowering prices or lavish interiors (although I do like both), but instead a new shift to honor what Japan Airlines set out to do over fifty years ago; to make a quality airline that not only provides good service but honorably portrays the Japanese spirit and culture. 

With this, I say "way t'go Japan Airlines!" and lift my pint of Asahi towards that beautiful yet simple red crane now being revived throughout the Japan Airlines fleet.  Plus, I just think it looks tight :D