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Saturday, December 19, 2015

If you Can't say Something Nice Then... Canadian Version

The old Disney quip from Thumper, "If you can't say something nice than don't say nothing at all" has finally come to "The Canadian Air". For several years pundits and prognosticators have been picking on Boeing space with its nine across seating. Maybe it's in an attempt for sounding knowledgeable through criticism. Or an attempt for fear mongering passengers into reading another issue of "What-Ever Flight Journal". Leave it to the Canadians to set the record straight about 787's from its very own 787's. This will be a Winging It polite feature article from Canada for Christmas.

Image result for Christmas Santa paintings

Coming straight from Winnipeg Free Press is: 


The remaining quotes from Winnipeg Free Press is a Christmas Special to the very special Winging It followers and readers for Christmas reading. "Merry Christmas", goes around the world. My own experience in travel includes an often journeyed experience on the 737 NG, various regional Jets and of course traveling on the big ones around North America.



During my flight time experiences, it often included a range of two to 6 hour flights on all equipment imaginable within North America. However, since I was grounded from making flight endeavors, I reflect and comment on this blog. Who was I? I was a 6' ft tall, and a 300 pounder during my career needing travel. So you see I know what cramped means and I can't understand how bloggers who weigh only 150 lbs. can complain about seating on 787 airplanes, and write a purposed article articulating seating failures on the 787. You've got to be kidding me, I know Santa Claus, I fed him the cookies and hot chocolate while on assignment. Since I have "retired", I am a slim 250 lbs. Those are my qualifications for writing this Christmas piece.

Time to start quotes from the Winnipeg Free Press  draped with Maple Leaf Red Font for Christmas: 

"But, truth be told, we chose the Korean capital more because we could fly there on Air Canada's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet. We'd heard it's the latest and greatest in long-haul air travel. It's ultra-comfortable, hyper-fuel-efficient, quieter, faster and stylish. Plus, we'd own bragging rights for riding the plane of the future, the jet that's revolutionizing aviation."

"It's OK if you picked this trip more for the aircraft than the destination," says Roch Lefebvre with a laugh. He's one of 12 service managers who has also earned the designation of Dreamliner coach. Air Canada tries to have at least one such coach on every Dreamliner flight to hobnob with passengers and help other flight attendants with all the plane's intricacies.

“Those include the marquee feature of the 787 -- the ability to minimize jet lag by maximizing cabin pressure and humidity so your blood absorbs more oxygen. In addition, large windows light up and darken in keeping with your destination's time to encourage sleep and hasten resetting the body's time clock.”

“Air Canada is so pumped about these attributes, it's promoting the Dreamliner with the "All jet, no lag" slogan. There's also larger overhead bins, personal touch-screen entertainment systems at all seats and USB and power outlets accessible for all.”

"People are in awe of this plane," adds Lefebvre. 

"We've had people book specific flights or change flights or routes deliberately so they could fly the Dreamliner."

To get the full-on round-trip Dreamliner experience I flew Vancouver to Seoul in economy and my wife in premium economy. On the way back, we both indulged in business class. I don't know if I'm qualified to report on the business class experience because I slept most of the 9 1/2 hours from Seoul to Vancouver.”

“But such shut-eye is the ultimate compliment of the aircraft. With my very own high-tech pod with lie-flat bed, complete with massage and firmness controls, it was inevitable I would slumber soundly.

Of course, I managed to stay awake for the Drappier Champagne welcome-aboard reception and dinner of beef tenderloin with a glass, or two, of Chateau Martinolles red wine from France.”

“Not to be complete Dreamliner geeks, we also enjoyed time on the ground in Seoul. We toured Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace; ate bibimbap (a veggie rice bowl with chilis) and bulgogi (marinated beef stew) at authentic Kim Chi Gol restaurant; took in the lotus tea ceremony and Chrysanthemum Flower Show at Jogyesa Temple; shopped famous Insa-Dong Street; and made fun of Seoul singer Psy, the guy behind the annoying worldwide hit song Gangnam Style. By the way, Gangnam is Seoul's equivalent of Beverly Hills.”

“The Dreamliner is Air Canada's go-to jet for long-haul flights such as Vancouver to Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai. The 787s are also on the Toronto to Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Milan and Tokyo routes."

"The new-generation 787-9 Dreamliner also just started flying Toronto to Delhi and Dubai."

Check out AirCanada.com and VisitSeoul.net...

By: Steve MacNaull
Posted: 12/19/2015 3:00 AM |

It wasn't hard to wrap this up only to say on a 737 NG, I snuggled into a comfortable position through airplane yoga techniques. I didn't have to have a wide seat spread-out of an arrogant traveler. I kept it Canadian and had an American technique for every seat offered me. 

The window required a shoulder roll, a pillow and entertainment. 

The middle seat situation, I pulled my elbows within the seat armrest boundaries where I once again entertained myself with what-ever is available and got up once every 90 minutes when possible. 

The aisle seat on single aisle aircraft became a slight challenge. Food Carts and traffic is always an interruption on the 737 SWA seating arrangements. 

Even with regional jets I was fine. A plus six hour flight in my case, would call for an economy plus ticket just because I am bigger than 200 lbs. Those under 200 lbs. should have a great time in economy on long flights. For Christmas, stop complaining about a lack of 787 spaciousness, because you get a premium experience while traveling economy, stop eating Santa's cookies and cut back on maple sugar and fly Air Canada. 


Friday, December 18, 2015

787-9 Production Cash 2016 Propels Boeing Forward

Boeing, in a startling move, will replace the 757 through announcing a new type, filling a gap it created during the last ten years of having no 757 replacement. Production efficiency will also make the 787 family of aircraft profitable after paring down production cost by sending excess cost to the development debt. These values were moved over as a long term program liability, totaling about a $28 billion dollar sideline movement of accumulated development cost, away from the 787 production stream. Cash comes aboard for Boeing and becomes a financial source for its new and predicted gap filler in 2016. Therefore, profits are finally recognized for the 787 during 2016. This also propels the 787-10 development, and an all-new 757 replacement model decision, which reaches its announcement epitome in 2016 ("As a 757 Global Dream"). 

The Max program cost are already identified and assigned its financial sources for the project. It will be SOP for Boeing building the Max as its many experimented and developed technologies from the 787 program, can be used for the Max program. The cost of making the Max can be recovered faster from its high end delivery repetitions, during the first five years of production. The Boeing strategy for other programs wraps in the 787-9 synergy.  

Boeing will pivot towards a 757 replacement from a robust 787-9 cash flow during 2016. It has set itself up for managing profitability and cash when adding one more program next year, if only announcing it during 2016, it will change the game one more time.


Thursday, December 17, 2015

Etihad, The Force Awakens

Where in the heck is the UAE? What does this place matter and why does Boeing owe its allegiance to its flag? All good questions for those stuck at a terminal reading a thrown away TED magazine. Stop, drop, and roll you're on fire if you think of Etihad as something special. 

Image result for The Force Awakens

Exhibit 1: Boeing smugly hides data on its website;


Model SeriesEngFirst OrderOrdersDeliveriesUnfilledFirst Delivery
777-300ERGE30-Nov-20041818-27-Jan-2006
777FGE10-Mar-200863321-Jun-2011
777XGE17-Nov-201325-25
777 Total492128
787-10GE14-Nov-201330-30
787-9GE10-Mar-20084153631-Dec-2014
787 Total71566

All Things 787 Blog Data Demonstrates Having Nine December Deliveries

All Things 787 by Uresh has made the case for 2015 as Boeing will deliver 135-787 during 2015. A remarkable increase over last year's huge effort of 114 -787 landing in customers hands. A chart derived from Uresh Seth's website, "All Things 787", demonstrates what the final number will bring to Boeing's production Juggernaut in 2015.





Currently, this Boeing tally shows 131 aircraft delivered as of December 17 for 2015. However, the deliveries in green are highlighted, to be delivered in the next two weeks, and will close out 2015 with 135-787 handed out.  The fourth Quarter 2015 should end with 35-787 delivered in quarter, sustaining a rate of nearly 12 a month pace during the last three months of 2015. Boeing should deliver 20 787-9 and 15 787-8 during the fourth Quarter. Indicating the quarter marks a permanent condition for Boeing since focusing on its more profitable 787-9 over the 787-8 production rate. Marking a turning point towards this propensity of 787-9's over the 787-8, will give Boeing a heightened cash position for 2016.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

A Sensible Long Range Seating Appointment From BA

Two Hundred and Sixteen passenger will not be disappointed on a long run flying with BA. The secret is in four classes when almost 41% of the seats are plus for sensible endurance and enjoyment for any 12 hour and longer flights. The set-up looks like this:

 

Eight of these in First Class

First_cabin.jpg


Take heart voyager, you are in one of the 42 in Club World
British Airways 787 Club World Cabin

Now if you are in Jam and want to break free here are thirty-nine reasons going long for a plus experience.


Its time to load last on BA's long haul. 127 of us will become intimate friends during the haul.

Image result for BA 787-9 economy seat pitch
Copious amounts of screen distraction is needed in economy seating for the 127 passengers who will know they have arrived about 4 hours before the remaining 89 passengers think to get up to disembark the 787-9. 

Steel Knight 16 Makes F-35 II Look good

The Marines take the F-35 II to the next level during an operational exercise “Steel Night 16”.


The following photos from Marines.Mil

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conduct a vertical landing at Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight.

Billions Spent For This Day In The Field. Marines are getting ready for that next day!

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conducts a refueling on Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight.


An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 taxis down the runway after refueling at Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight.

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight.



Go Marines! Awesome sauce!! As this one aircraft now in the Marine inventory replaces the Harrier, Intruder and F-18 compliment. A supersonic jump jet out flies the whole lot even at each level of purpose giving marines an added value aviation hammer. A purpose built marine carrier can house a squadron below decks and deploy in a conflict with unrelenting assaults.


Put this beast ashore in a parking lot or highway, as most locations can becomes the new Marine airport anywhere in the world. Just give it an acre for landing and a berm for housing, the Marines have an air superiority fighter hidden away for combat in theatre. Ouch, it's the after burn the adversarial strategy can't match.  

Winging It Discovers A New Air Wars Web Site

Sometime we all stumble upon a "new-to-you", web site. The Winging It Crew stumbles through another day finding anna aero within the ranks of good reads. It is made brief today on what you may do with this information. Boeing stretches out production lead over Airbus during the November 2015 segment of time. December will continue delivery pacing with Boeing, completing a plus 700 delivery goal achievement during 2015.

Airbus Presented First in Anna Aero


Boeing in 1st Place per Anna Aero
boeing-deliveries-15

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Toilets Tank Airbus A350 for Several Months

Arch rival Airbus has a problem coming to a head. Its toilets are from Zodiac, supplier of all things reclined. The several month delay on getting its Zodiac toilets unplugged won't be an Airbus game changer. They will get it right eventually during a sixty day window of time for airing out the critical passenger station. Airbus expected 15 of its A350's built and delivered by year's end. However, a supplier delay of product not meeting Airbus configurations for the A350's exist, and by years end it is in a stall at an undisclosed Toulouse location. They will hit maybe 14 Airbus delivered and Airbus expects another 60 A350's to be delivered in 2016 where its counterpart in North America, Boeing, will rack up another 130 plus 787 wide bodies into customer's' hand exceeding any Airbus A350 production with an over 100% output advantage for this type.
The supplier issue is still the critical show stopper for any program, especially for Airbus at this time, as it turns on its wide body production pace in an attempt at matching Boeing's head start considering its propensity of having an incredible two plant delivery pace. The Boeing 787 backlog will slip under the Airbus backlog before 2016 ends. Boeing is near the Airbus net 764 unit wide body backlog for the twin aisle and twin engine type. Boeing is at 784 net Backlog for the 787 family of aircraft, having 1143 orders booked and 359 delivered. Boeing will catch Airbus backlog by end of first Quarter 2016, if all things stay the same on the order books.

In 2017 when the 787-10 will show up on the floor, suggest a buying spree for 787's will be ripe, as the diminished backlog with Boeing positions them within the magic five year plans of most airline operations for a delivery window. Boeing can now manage order syncing with a customer's five year plan maintaining a 750 unit, 787 backlog. A shrewd strategy from Boeing five years past; "get that 787 backlog under the five year production mark!" Airbus is yet three years away from that distinction, as it will try with supplier cooperation matching Boeing WB output in the next three years. Boeing is capable of taking on more orders and delivering faster than its combative competitor for the foreseeable future. 

Delivery timing matters for every customer in the industry. Many a customer bloated its WB orders earlier when it could, as a hedge against not having the best aircraft in its respective fleet sooner rather than later. Now customers can order in stride with business opportunity without worrying about missing out on delivery slots for a seamless fleet renewal plan, because it can take deliveries within its own five year corporate window from Boeing. 

The long order book wait period is rapidly shrinking for Boeing even though they have booked at least 1,142, 787 orders with 354, 787 already delivered. They are on par with the Airbus' order book backlog. However, considering its a "late" Airbus production ramp-up, even as Airbus had a sub 800 order book at the start of its initial production cycle starting in late 2014. With this consideration, "That my diligent friends is the Boeing order book high ground!"

Boeing continues to add to its WB order book as Airbus A350 order intake languishes over the last three years compared with Boeing. Now that the 787-10 has taken on more orders (EVA air), after two soft years from the initial 787-10 order period, Airbus is gasping for help in this segment and it isn't coming soon. Boeing can deliver sooner than Airbus within the proverbial "Corporate Golden period", or a customer's five years of planning and opportunity period. Boeing has taken in a net of  294, 787 orders since January 2013 where Airbus has netted 193, A350 orders sine January 2013 where these last two years are a minus 37 net A350's removed from the books.


Monday, December 14, 2015

The AI Team Loves It When A Plane Comes Together

The AI team from India reports a 6% profitability margin, largely due to the influence of the 787 fleet of 21 units found within its 107 airplane fleet. Amongst all the 787 complaints and mishaps Air India can't seem to avoid the fuel efficiency of the 787 lifting its profit line up by the bootstraps. The plane just works well on the bottom line, even though Air India tries as it may, a bumbling approach to the airline industry.

Image result for Air India 787 missing panel 
Missing Panel from a screwless Blow Out an AI Maintenance Issue

Air India likely to make 6% profit this fiscal, first since merger   


At last, Winging It, can stop complaining about Air India's gift of the 787 making a mark, despite of all its attempts by the same AI muddling up loose panels, scabbing parts, and questionable maintenance issues. Other companies around the world seem to avoid bumblings with its own 787s or at least those local press reports don't make it to the news wire. The Dreamliner has lifted Air India to profitability much to my amazement and awe. Maybe Air India is on to something others are tight lipped about, the 787 makes money. The sooner a company gets on an order list with Boeing, the more shares of stock can be sold, or is it the other way around? 

Either way, the Air India profit call out is a testament that through fire and smoke or missing panels you make money with the 787, and remain profitably happy. It's a safe airplane and a safe bet, fortunes will turn around in spite of any government's good intentions. Ethiopian did it first, and finally Air India is on the cusp of financial competence. Every other carrier in between must have a similar story hidden within its financial internals. 

Saturday, December 12, 2015

TUI Synergy Is The 787 Energy

TUI is actually five airlines into one company. Making them one of the best synergistic notions of business replications throughout its individual national footprints. England, Sweden and Germany to name a few of those aspirations found Europe, have turned a corner and gained a solid position for ordering more wide body aircraft. It bought early, the 787, for Great Britain vacations to the Caribbean and beyond. Now TUI is acting on the GB established model with its 787 fleet. Mission was accomplished much to the delight of those flying out of Southwick to Mexico.


Image result for Thomson 787

A Winging It Feature:


An airline who looks forward for more 787's is an airline who holds the high market ground. TUI subsidiaries have a trail already blazed through the Thomson Airways model. They can do this again four times over through ordering Boeing with the 787-8's or 787-9's. Germany TUI would want the 787-9's, I would think, and the Netherlands would want some 787-8's if I were betting on an order during 2016. Sweden could come forward for a dozen more. In all the TUI group of vacation purveyors could take on another fifty Dreamliners in the next couple of years. Combining planned fleet turnover of equipment and its fleet expansion opportunities, TUI will draw more 787's orders from Boeing. 

In 2016, watch for a TUI order placement coming from several of its subsidiary operations. Look for TUI-Sweden, Germany, and Netherlands play on the Boeing books with a mixture of 787-8, 787-9 and maybe a 787-10 order. Least I not forget the Brussels operation making a charming quintet of vacation plans from Europe to the Americas.