rgbrock1
7th Oct 2009, 14:46
All,
If you bear with me here you'll see why, I believe, this thread belongs in Tech Log.
I've been doing some research/reading - for knowledge purposes only - about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which will eventually fly some day.
However, some of what I've been reading/researching has me a bit concerned about a couple of items. Perhaps someone can set me straight on these points.
1. According to the FAA, there is concern in that agency about the aircraft's system vulnerability. Supposedly the system network in the cabin (for use by passengers to access the Internet, amongst other things) is connected to the aircraft's control, navigation and communications system. As a systems engineer by profession I find that quite difficult to comprehend. Yes, this issue is supposedly mitigated by firewalls and separate physical conduits but I still find this difficult to accept. There are many ramifications here, if this is indeed true. Does anyone have any additional info on this?
2. The All-Composite fuselage. Yes, I know modern aviation has pretty good experience with the use of composite materials. But this aircraft would be the first with an all-composite fuselage. My only question/concern here would be the life-span of such a fuselage. Yes, Boeing can test and test and test to their heart's content in order to get this aircraft "air worthy". But what about long-term? One really cannot test for long-term issues such as the effects flight cycles have on such an airframe ie, fatigue. Is this cause for concern? What about maintenance of such a fuselage? How would, for example, cracks be discernible? (I wouldn't think they'd be obvious during a visual inspection?)
I know I've written this rather simplistically but with my lack of knowledge in the technical aspects of aviation, it's the best I could do.
Thank you.
If you bear with me here you'll see why, I believe, this thread belongs in Tech Log.
I've been doing some research/reading - for knowledge purposes only - about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which will eventually fly some day.
However, some of what I've been reading/researching has me a bit concerned about a couple of items. Perhaps someone can set me straight on these points.
1. According to the FAA, there is concern in that agency about the aircraft's system vulnerability. Supposedly the system network in the cabin (for use by passengers to access the Internet, amongst other things) is connected to the aircraft's control, navigation and communications system. As a systems engineer by profession I find that quite difficult to comprehend. Yes, this issue is supposedly mitigated by firewalls and separate physical conduits but I still find this difficult to accept. There are many ramifications here, if this is indeed true. Does anyone have any additional info on this?
2. The All-Composite fuselage. Yes, I know modern aviation has pretty good experience with the use of composite materials. But this aircraft would be the first with an all-composite fuselage. My only question/concern here would be the life-span of such a fuselage. Yes, Boeing can test and test and test to their heart's content in order to get this aircraft "air worthy". But what about long-term? One really cannot test for long-term issues such as the effects flight cycles have on such an airframe ie, fatigue. Is this cause for concern? What about maintenance of such a fuselage? How would, for example, cracks be discernible? (I wouldn't think they'd be obvious during a visual inspection?)
I know I've written this rather simplistically but with my lack of knowledge in the technical aspects of aviation, it's the best I could do.
Thank you.