B738 Refresh

[SpannerTwister]

According to this Qantas Media release that Ben covers nicely ............

QANTAS TO REFRESH BOEING 737 FLEET (http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-to-refresh-boeing-737-fleet)

"Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Officer Lyell Strambi said the multi-million dollar investment in upgrading the interiors of 67 aircraft that operate on the Qantas domestic network would commence in mid-2015 and be completed within 12 months."

Work starting in mid-2015, 12 months away, but moving on..

"..the refurbishment will see wireless Q-streaming entertainment installed on the 38 remaining 737-800 aircraft to supplement the screens that fold down from the ceiling."

"This will allow customers to stream on-demand TVs, movies and music direct to their own laptops, tablets or smartphones. Pending approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, customers will be able to use their portable electronic devices in flight mode throughout the entire flight."

In all of my portable devices Flight Mode switches off ALL radio communications, Phone & Wireless & Bluetooth.

Given that in "Flight Mode" wireless is switched off, how are the passengers going to use Q-Streaming or am I missing something?

ST

[TurningFinalRWY36]

iphone in airplane mode still has the option to enable wifi, not sure if it is the same on android products but apple should not be an issue

[V1rhot8]

My android phone is able to use WiFi and bluetooth whilst in Flight/Airplane mode. Your devices may first turn off these functions with the intent of making you force them on. Generally when I am not in range of WiFi, I select it off to conserve battery.

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Spanner twister - you clearly haven't flown virgin or Lufthansa recently.

Old news

UTR

[FlexibleResponse]

Nothing is ever black and white.

As far as I can ascertain, Flight (Airplane) Mode switches off transmitting functions. In some devices "Receive-only technologies like FM radio and GPS still operate if the device is so equipped." Wiki...

But, when in Flight Mode, WiFi and Bluetooth can be reselected to ON if allowed and desired.

I suspect aircraft manufacturers have been hardening aircraft systems to better withstand EMC emissions from pax equipment.

[Nassensteins Monster]

"This will allow customers to stream on-demand TVs, movies and music direct to their own laptops, tablets or smartphones. Pending approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, customers will be able to use their portable electronic devices in flight mode throughout the entire flight."

The missing piece of the puzzle here is that on take-off/climbout and approach/landing pax are advised to switch off or shut down all portable electronic devices, not just put them on flight mode while continuing to use them for offline purposes. Loosening the regs to allow laptops & tablets to be used in flight mode on take-off/climbout and approach/landing allows pax to work or watch their own offline content gate to gate.

[the_company_spy]

Does anyone know where this work is going to be carried out?
In house, or out sourced?

[Capn Bloggs]

Can I be refreshed too? http://www.smilies.our-local.co.uk/index_files/fingerscrossed.gif

[bankrunner]

As far as I can ascertain, Flight (Airplane) Mode switches off transmitting functions. In some devices "Receive-only technologies like FM radio and GPS still operate if the device is so equipped." Wiki...

But, when in Flight Mode, WiFi and Bluetooth can be reselected to ON if allowed and desired.

That's correct.

I suspect aircraft manufacturers have been hardening aircraft systems to better withstand EMC emissions from pax equipment.

Or more accurately, the threat of EMI issues from wifi devices never existed in the first place, and the regulators just took an ultra conservative approach to the issue regardless of any specific evidence that there's a potential problem.

I'd be surprised if there were less than 30 active mobile phones on any given 737 revenue flight anywhere in the world!

[wishiwasupthere]

I'd be surprised if there were less than 30 active mobile phones on any given 737 revenue flight anywhere in the world!

Guilty.....sort of :E

I always turn my phone off, but rarely my iPad. I usually just close the cover on it.

[Kiwiconehead]

Certainly see plenty of people ignoring the requirements these days - but the 3G type of phones seem to be less threatening than the old CDMA and analogue phones.

[Going Boeing]

Squeezing in an additional 6 seats by shrinking the size of the rear galley and toilets - apparently done without changing "the amount of seating space each customer has". My interpretation of this management speak is that the seat pitch is reduced (for all rows behind the overwing exits) but because they will be using thinner seat cushions, the space between the passenger and the seat in front will be (almost) the same. No mention about comfort levels though.

Can any of the Maggot crews comment on whether the additional six pax will cause any weight issues on some sectors?

[XPT]

how can QF afford to upgrade anything ?

[cbradio]

How can Qantas not afford to upgrade just about everything?

[moa999]

Like advertising and maintenance,
you may be losing money, but if you don't do it, you can guarantee you will be losing a lot more money in the future

Seems like a relatively cheap way to increase capacity and passenger experience (particularly versus the competition) without spending $$$ on new aircraft.
The bulk of the older 738s were from the AA order that QF took after 9/11 so are approaching 12-13 years. Looks like sensible spend for an aircraft that will likely be with QF for another 5-10 years

Agree with goeing boing that it may also mean thinner seat cushions, or the newer slimline seats that provide more legroom