BOEING is gradually building up momentum with the 787 programme.
Mike Carriker, chief pilot for the project, was in London last week explaining the thinking behind the flight deck. Firstly it is not revolutionary, just an evolution of the successful 777 layout. Where there is a vital difference is in LRUs (line replaceable units) that have been reduced from 22 to 12. Airline customers do not get a choice of kit supplier although there are some options including a door surveillance camera. He emphasised the training requirements for the new aircraft, 21 days if your previous command was say a Learjet, but only five days for a 777. The prototype 787 is due to fly in mid-2007, ANA the lead customer. However Crawley, near Gatwick, will be the home of the first simulator, a Thales (the former Rediffusion) unit that is expected to be commissioned at the Boeing-owned Alteon training centre in early 2008.
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