Originally Posted by
1200firm
The 744/748 is the same type rating. Only a differences course required. If you're current on one you're current on the other. No MFF malarky.
The 747 First Class section is unique can never be repeated. Normally ALL cabins need emergency exits both in front & behind. (This is what makes the 777 First Class cabin inferior.) The 747 has been grandfathered in this regard & the First Class section only has exits to the rear. All this from a senior Boeing sales VP. Who knew?
Roll on the 747-8i
As far as I'm aware, the rules have not changed regarding having an exit
near each end of the aircraft - I've compared the 1982 rules (to which the 747-400 and 747-8 were certified) with today's FAR 25 regulations and have seen the same clause in both regarding the exit location provisions (having said that though, I'm not an aviation law/certification specialist, so don't rely on what I say).
Current FAR 25 (
link here)
§ 25.807 Emergency exits.
<snip>
(f) Location.
(1) Each required passenger emergency exit must be accessible to the passengers and located where it will afford the most effective means of passenger evacuation.
(2) If only one floor-level exit per side is prescribed, and the airplane does not have a tailcone or ventral emergency exit, the floor-level exits must be in the rearward part of the passenger compartment unless another location affords a more effective means of passenger evacuation.
(3) If more than one floor-level exit per side is prescribed, and the airplane does not have a combination cargo and passenger configuration, at least one floor-level exit must be located in each side near each end of the cabin.
1982 FAR 25 (amendment 25-55 through 59:
link here)
Sec. 25.807
Passenger emergency exits.
<snip>
(c) Passenger emergency exits. The prescribed exits need not be diametrically opposite each other nor identical in size and location on both sides. They must be distributed as uniformly as practicable taking into account passenger distribution. If only one floor level exit per side is prescribed, and the airplane does not have a tail cone or ventral emergency exit, the floor level exits must be in the rearward part of the passenger compartment, unless another location affords a more effective means of passenger evacuation. Where more than one floor level exit per side is prescribed, at least one floor level exit per side must be located near each end of the cabin, except that this provision does not apply to combination cargo/passenger configurations. Exits must be provided as follows:
<snip>
Getting back on topic - I don't believe that CX really needs the A380, as it's just too much plane to fill reasonably. The problem is that they really can't spread around their flights to do only one A380 per day, as people will expect consistent quality of service and the subsequent high downtime at the other end of the flight will impact their ability to move around aircraft quickly. Even with projected growth, CX and the A380 won't be able to be flexible enough to move with varying market demands to stay afloat for the next few years.