would YOU get on a 787?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Lincolnshire
Hospitals maybe but schools no, the pilot always wrestles with the controls to miss the school, even if the have to move the school to get it near the crash site.
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 402
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From: UK, sometimes USA
I hope you have got rid of your mobile phones and lap tops
How many smoke/fire incidents to passenger flights have been caused by laptops and phones? How many of these have been in passenger aircraft for the last decade even? Millions.
The B787 has suffered too many incidents over a little more than year in service and a relatively small number of in-service aircraft.
What you're suggesting isn't a valid comparison at all.
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Flew on ANA last year down to HK and frankly was not that impressed. Liked larger windows and disliked dimmer, as has been posted, but other than that it was just another Boeing. Few "modern" jets to me seem that diffrent with exception of A380. Would prefer up stairs on 380 or 747 to 787, and if had to be on one level then 777 does it for me as long as with my preferred carriers.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Reading, UK
Due to fly on the Thomson ones in May
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,701
Likes: 2,046
From: Reading, UK
A colleagues wife works in speciality materials including composites and she has warned against flying on any aircraft made in this way.
I assume she goes to Torquay and not Torremolinos for her holidays.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 738
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From: Somewhere over the Rainbow
Design vs Component
Seems to be a component issue vs an overall design (composite airframe) issue. I don't see a serious structural fault and in my opinion every new technology comes with issues.
Better these cropped up now then at a later date when it might have been hushed up as there would have been too many 787's flying and grounding the fleet would have meant serious ramifications.
HAving asked that here is another question
Would you get onto a 330 considering the continuing issue and incidents coming out of the freezing of it's tubes?
Better these cropped up now then at a later date when it might have been hushed up as there would have been too many 787's flying and grounding the fleet would have meant serious ramifications.
HAving asked that here is another question
Would you get onto a 330 considering the continuing issue and incidents coming out of the freezing of it's tubes?
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Boeing now suspending delv according to BBC until battery issues resolved so looks like 787 will continue to be a relativly rair "bird" for a while. Maybe Boeing just pushed the design a little too far in one leap or maybe bean counters enforced a "cut corner" as these are after all commercial aircraft. I am not saying they would delibratly make it unsafe / dangerouse but perhaps design was pushed to achiev commercial / marketing gain before technology was up to it, only time will tell but I am sure Boeing will resolve issue but a what cost to them, and their reputation, I for one do not know.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,511
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From: East Midlands
Because the designer, maker and seller of the complete aircraft chose to fit this item?
I might fly in one but I would not pay extra for the dubious privilege of being in the Thompson cattle truck version!
I might fly in one but I would not pay extra for the dubious privilege of being in the Thompson cattle truck version!
Last edited by A2QFI; 19th January 2013 at 06:03.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488
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From: Hong Kong
If the authorities in the EU, USA & Japan don't want it flying at the moment & Boeing are suspending deliveries - no I wouldn't fly on one right now.
Get it fixed &b get it flying; I haven't flown on one yet & was up until now rather looking forward to.
Get it fixed &b get it flying; I haven't flown on one yet & was up until now rather looking forward to.
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: UK
Of course I will fly in a 787, given the chance.
It's all about managed risk; at the end of the day, any flight is basically a journey in a pressurised tube several miles above the ground powered by exploding chemicals. Decades of research and development - and, yes, lessons learned from accidents - ensure that planes don't generally fall out of the sky.
Plus, I'm always reassured that pilots are utterly professional humans. No crew I've ever met would knowingly fly something that they didn't believe was absolutely safe.
That said, Li-Ion and lithium polymer batteries worry me. We deal with thousands at work (IT industry) and we've had some nasty close shaves. It feels like the dark ages having to have buckets of sand next to every workstation ready to smother a battery that won't stop getting hotter and hotter.
They will sort it though; it's very new technology and all new technology needs to have the wrinkles ironed out. I'm sure early turbojets and turbofans had major issues; look at them now.
My biggest concern is that the media just lurve a good disaster, and if we're not careful they could absolutely destroy the reputation of a fine airplane. Ill-informed commentary is the last thing the industry needs in the middle of a recession.
It's all about managed risk; at the end of the day, any flight is basically a journey in a pressurised tube several miles above the ground powered by exploding chemicals. Decades of research and development - and, yes, lessons learned from accidents - ensure that planes don't generally fall out of the sky.
Plus, I'm always reassured that pilots are utterly professional humans. No crew I've ever met would knowingly fly something that they didn't believe was absolutely safe.
That said, Li-Ion and lithium polymer batteries worry me. We deal with thousands at work (IT industry) and we've had some nasty close shaves. It feels like the dark ages having to have buckets of sand next to every workstation ready to smother a battery that won't stop getting hotter and hotter.
They will sort it though; it's very new technology and all new technology needs to have the wrinkles ironed out. I'm sure early turbojets and turbofans had major issues; look at them now.
My biggest concern is that the media just lurve a good disaster, and if we're not careful they could absolutely destroy the reputation of a fine airplane. Ill-informed commentary is the last thing the industry needs in the middle of a recession.
Fly Conventional Gear
Joined: May 2007
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From: Winchester
A colleagues wife works in speciality materials including composites and she has warned against flying on any aircraft made in this way.
Composite materials have been used in aircraft for years. In the world of private flying almost 100% composite aircraft have been produced for a long time with few issues. In terms of the 787 the FAA demanded more stringent certification tests to ensure that its (for a large aircraft) unprecedented level of composite materials did not pose any issues.
There are no doubt challenges though; for example composites require more precise manufacturing tolerances particularly when it comes to the use of bonding adhesives which require the correct temperature and humidity to set properly.
The issue though that has been raised the most is that of damage and repair. After significant stress to a composite material it can be harder to determine whether it has experienced a loss of strength and particularly with larger pieces when repaired whether it has repaired back to the original standard or not. Neither of these have proved insurmountable.
In terms of would I get on a 787, I might at this point avoid a flight on one simply due to the risk of a technical delay. However if presented with a serviceable one and told to get on it I would have no problem with that, nothing that has happened to it so far suggests there is a real risk of one crashing.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
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From: England, UK
Disclaimer: I'm SLF of the nervous variety. At the moment, no I wouldn't get on a 787. When they've got everything sorted, then yes, I would.
However, to prove it's not just the fact I'm a nervous pax, I don't ride new rollercoasters at my local theme park until they've had time to bed in and work out the inevitable teething problems.
However, to prove it's not just the fact I'm a nervous pax, I don't ride new rollercoasters at my local theme park until they've had time to bed in and work out the inevitable teething problems.