Parsley – ANA working with rather than fighting them

Hi Parsley (This ones for you on Christmas day)
Rather than fight Boeing, ANA seem to be doing positive business and continuing a harmonious relationship with Boeing.
It does not mean that ANA are ignoring the 787 delays but maybe they are going to use alternatives as interim measures and thereby gain in favourable commercial relationships with Boeing.

Boeing and Air New Zealand Welcome Airline’s First 777-300ER Into Fleet

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1570

News Release Issued: December 22, 2010 5:53 PM EST
Boeing and Air New Zealand Welcome Airline’s First 777-300ER Into Fleet

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air New Zealand welcomed the airline’s first 777-300ER (extended range) at a ceremony today at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Air New Zealand ordered the first of five 777-300ERs in August 2007 to complement the eight Boeing 777-200ERs already in its long-haul fleet.
The airline intends to use the first three airplanes to operate between Auckland, Los Angeles and London beginning April 2011.
Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ERs feature a unique, innovative seat experience in the Economy, Premium Economy and Business Premier classes. For example, “Skycouch” seating, known as CuddleClass, is available in the first 10 rows of Economy Class and will allow passengers who book three-wide seat space to raise the footrests with the touch of a button to create a lie-flat space similar to a sofa at home.
Air New Zealand’s Premium Economy “Spaceseats” will feature a larger seat area and more room between passengers. When the seat reclines, it slides forward, preserving the personal space of the passenger sitting behind.
All seats have in-seat power and USB connections, allowing passengers to connect their MP3 players with the in-flight entertainment systems.
“The Boeing 777-300ER was an excellent choice for the routes Air New Zealand operates, especially given its 15 percent fuel efficiency improvements over current aircraft and excellent customer proposition,” said Air New Zealand Group General Manager, International Airline, Ed Sims.
“The ability to customize the 777-300ER has enabled Air New Zealand to create a number of world firsts,” said Sims.
“Few, if any airlines have invested time and money beyond First Class. We have re-invented our Economy and Premium Economy customer experience in every aspect.
“We’ve created the world’s first economy seating that enables people to lie-down, and a Premium Economy seat many airlines call Business Class.
“We’re also the first commercial airline to introduce induction ovens for all cabins to give our customers real food; and have developed an IFE system to enable people to be in control of their whole in-flight experience,” Sims said.
Air New Zealand was named 2010 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World because of its passenger-pleasing innovations. “The interior of Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ERs, with new-concept seats and a sophisticated in-flight entertainment system, is a great example of why Air New Zealand is Airline of the Year,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“The 777-300ER is an ideal platform for enabling Air New Zealand to once again demonstrate that they are a forward-thinking airline with revolutionary ideas,” Dailey said.
Air New Zealand currently has 35 Boeing jets in its fleet and will be the first to take delivery of the 787-9 Dreamliner, with eight on order. The airline also operates Boeing 737-300s, 747-400s and 767-300ERs.
The 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world’s most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Sixty-one customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s.
Contact:
Miles Kotay
+1 206-766-2923
+1 425-306-4537 (mobile)
[email]miles.kotay@boeing.com[/email]
Contact:
Debbie Heathers
+1 206-579-5159
[email]debbie.heathers@boeing.com[/email]
Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/
SOURCE Boeing

I too found the BEA pic you posted amongst my own posts in this forum

Below is the well known pic of the metal strip that was circulated just after the crash, at first it looks quite different to the one in the Getty image, but on closer inspection it appears to be the same piece.

That is definitely the case, and in my air safety related job I have seen many negative changes in the last few years, it seems it does take an accident like this to push things the right way – sadly. There seems to be many land mark accidents which have brought in changes to safety procedures, but as things improve things get forgotten and the cycle has to repeat itself.

I kind of agree with JB aswel, I was surprised that the whole event could be pinned to Continental Airlines and the poor engineer John Taylor, it seems too simple a way of porportioning blame and wrapping up the case without dropping Air France in it aswel.
Taylor must have to live with the awful consequences of his actions for the rest of his life anyway, but the stigma of jail and fines must make it even worse.

It is a difficult case for outsiders to comment on, but the whole premise of this thread is that the metal strip caused the accident, it just might not have.

Hi pagen01

The likely original piece of metal is in the pics in the BEA report which I have referenced on this forum some time back and I too today found the pic you have posted above within those reports.

The date of the pic in the BEA report is very likely very soon after the crash in 2000, and the displayed images in the ‘gettyimages’ set are much more recent photographs after much forensic work has been done on it. The angle the two different photographs have been taken from and the backgrounds they are on contribute to a perception of them possibly not being the same.

Many other pictures in the BEA report/s have the piece of metal matched to tyre fracture and a lot more sad but interesting forensics.

I still think that the original piece of metal shown in the report will be available to Continental should they wish to file a counter claim.
Even if the one in the ‘gettyimages’ is a look alike copy made for safety – yet I still think this unlikely as the other pics including all the very emotional/graphic ones are authentic.

It sure has made accountability improve

Photos of the actual piece of metal were circulated to various airports and airfields, as part of a campaign to change and improve FOD spotting, recovery, and reporting techniques.

Yes pagen01 it has made things better at many developed country airport runways.

Ironically it always is the case, people have to die sometimes before anyone improves things.

JT442 – Please learn from this and move towards openess

This was a huge tragedy, BUT….

Thanks to the French court we, as aircraft engineers, may think twice about owning up to errors we make (we are not perfect beings after all). In other words, as a direct result of this Gallic Witch-hunt, there will be mistakes made which will be covered up by those involved which will lead to further loss of life.

The blame culture should be killed off, especially in this industry, and we should be open and honest about the standard of work performed, which will lead to safer operating.

My personal opinion is that Air France are simply shifting the compensation claims from themselves to Continental. Poor Show. BOO….

🙁

Hi JT442
I’d like to think from what you say “The blame culture should be killed off, especially in this industry, and we should be open and honest about the standard of work performed, which will lead to safer operating.” that you are now what you wish not to be forced to become. You are obviously first and foremost from what you say, a professional engineer, a normal human being (to err is human), that learns from each mistake however experienced you are, but two or more wrongs 10 years ago should not make you wish to turn sour on the world, your employer or yourself.
Please rise above it, make good your teams, work with your management to avoid pushing profit before risk and safety. Only that way can the tragedy that ended scattered in debris in Gonesse be avoided again.

What happened there in 2000 was in essence the tragic result of a replacement aircraft, hurriedly put in to service, to fly primarily German nationals (who at the time would have probably been annoyed because they were already delayed), a flight crew who on hindsight may also have made some decisions that may have avoided the tragedy with the simple word in French ‘Non’, very likely heavy marketing and managerial pressure that pushed to an operational point of ‘no return’, and eventually the judicial result as you now say “a blame culture” a scapegoat.

This is nothing new and whether you believe in Christianity or not it is prevalent throughout human history even before Christ was crucified. That hasn’t made a good majority of the silent honourable professional human race wish to continue to be professional and rise above the ‘blame culture’.

I urge you not to set a negative tone for your profession, as every professional engineer that turns from being professional to being un professional means that passenger and crew safety will plummet. Instead please say to yourself “I shall fix every engineering problem knowing/imagining that my loved ones are going to be on that aircraft, their safety is my paramount goal” and if I can’t do the job to my professional standards I shall just use the equivalent of the French word ‘Non’ and record it and report it. If the ‘buck’ stops with me so be it. It may cause a delay but people may stay alive.”

That way you sleep with a clear conscience.

I am sure on hindsight everyone that has ‘saved their own neck’ wishes they had on that fateful day said “Non” as all the delays and inconvenience would have long been forgotten and the majority of those dead would most likely be alive.

Stay cool and a ‘clean’ honest engineer.

Boeing Completes Acquisition of Summit Aeronautic Group in Montana

News Release Issued: December 21, 2010 12:22 PM EST
Boeing Completes Acquisition of Summit Aeronautic Group in Montana

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1568

Helena, Mont.-based hard-metals facility to be renamed Boeing Helena

SEATTLE, Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today the completion of the acquisition of the business and operations conducted by Summit Aeronautics Group in Helena, Montana. Terms of the transaction, announced on Nov. 22, were not disclosed.
The newly acquired business will be named Boeing Helena. It will become part of Boeing Fabrication, a division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Boeing Helena will manufacture titanium and other hard-metal structures for Boeing commercial aircraft including the 747-8, 767 and 787.

Forward-Looking Information Is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty
Certain statements in this release may be “forward-looking” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements regarding the proposed acquisition of Summit include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the transaction, future business prospects, our guidance relating to 2010 and 2011 financial and operating performance, product development and benefits and synergies of the transaction, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions about future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak to events only as of the date they are made and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effect of economic conditions in the United States and globally, the ability of the parties to satisfy the transaction conditions and complete the acquisition, the risk that competing offers will be made, our ability to successfully integrate Summit’s business and realize anticipated synergies, and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Cris McHugh
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Communications
+1 206-851-9884
More information: http://www.boeing.com
SOURCE Boeing

Boeing is serious and involved with their suppliers in this positive move. – a comment especially for Parsley. You don’t have to go to war with suppliers or manufacturers – you simply work with them (or even financially support or own them) rather than threaten them. If they aren’t worthy of your custom then find another.

What is the source of the pic ?

The cause of the Air France Concorde crash.

Hi Wyvernfan

What is the original source of the thumbnail in your thread?

A few things possibly stand out –
– Would the French judiciary wish to make a public display of the actual original piece of metal – supposedly current vital evidence
– I have tried enlarging it but it does not show much (forensic equipment required)
– There appear to be a pair of white gloves (possibly low static) in the background (which may mean that this may be authentic/made to look authentic evidence)
– Why the combination picture of Concorde model and the piece of metal – journalistic campaign to go heavy on Continental????

Surely Continental have enough legal clout to have asked for a lot of definitive forensic evidence with respect to the actual piece of metal, impact with burst tyre/s (rubber,etc) and impact with wing (paint, different metal, etc)

Hi Parsley I am sure both parties lawyers will be hard at it

Hi Parsley I am sure both parties’ lawyers will be hard at it, but I think in this day and age supply chains can be ‘king’ and I am sure Boeing have gone as hard against their suppliers as they possibly can.
I am repeating myself Boeing does NOT wish these delays at all, but have to abide by prioritising passenger safety before profit. Any reversal of these priorities and there will be no Boeing in a few years, as lives will be lost.
Instead I think negotiation and compromise between the supposed aggrieved airlines and Boeing as to operating alternative ‘interim’ high quality Boeing aircraft at highly preferential leasing rates is a way forward.
Nothing will come by AI or any other airline bloodying their noses by going tooth and nail against Boeing who will simply keep legally stalling them using their lawyers until the 787 rolls out. When that day arrives the new customers will grab at the 787 and overtake the antagonistic airlines.
Many US airlines have deferred their planned purchase date of their 787s.
See my post quoting the URL of several business analysts’ comments.
I particularly like the one which ends with the ….High Barriers to Entry”
This is Boeing’s salvation for a long time yet.
Airbus will win some orders in the meantime but lets see if when the A350 roll out time comes if it’s a ‘piece of cake’ or otherwise.

Analysts see Boeing 787 deliveries in 2011 — maybe

Analysts see Boeing 787 deliveries in 2011 — maybe
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2010/12/12/787.html
I have just put in snippets below –

….Boeing had hoped to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airways in the first quarter of 2011. And that was a big hope, considering the program is already nearly three years behind Boeing’s initial schedule……

…With all the new technology being incorporated into the 787 — much of which was done by other companies in Boeing’s disparate design and supply chain — problems and delays were inevitable,….

…the program has suffered from the setup of the supply chain.

…Boeing had at one time projected the 787 program to be profitable after a few hundred deliveries. …..it will take four-digit delivery numbers for Boeing to turn a profit now, taking into consideration customer charges and the costs associated with the continued delays….

…“It’s a good thing that people still need an aircraft in this category,” .. “(Boeing) is lucky that it’s in an industry with very high barriers to entry.”

There you have it – what is there in it’s league at present?
Innovation and daring to be different can cost a company money but better money than lives