Emirates Airlines Wonders If Skin Would Withstand Ramp Rash

The good news is that Emirates Airlines acknowledges it's a potential customer for Boeing's new 7E7 Dreamliner. The bad news is, the carrier is worried about how the revolutionary airplane will stand up to the usual bump and grind experienced on the ramp.

To put it in a nutshell, the airline is worried about the sort of fender-benders that are all to common to aircraft in near-terminal operations.

"Our maintenance boys have been particularly hard on Boeing, given the extensive use of composites that will be used to lighten up the Dreamliner," said Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airlines. Usually, small dings caused by clumsy baggage handlers and fuel-truck operators aren't as major a concern for aluminum-skinned aircraft. But the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says they're a bigger concern, given the composite materials to be used in the 7E7.

"Boeing told us they have dealt with this issue," Clark said. "I said that's fine. But I can't afford to have aircraft stuck on the ground because of a small dent, which on other aircraft I would let go, but on the 7E7 I can't because of the composite material."

Boeing says the composites will hold up just fine, thank you. "The 'bangs' that cause minor damage to aluminum structure will not impact composite materials," a spokesman said. The company points out that the composites to be used in the Dreamliner are the exact same materials already in use on the tail sections of 777s. Boeing says, with more than 400 777s in service, there's not been one complaint about damage to the tail section of the aircraft.

FMI: www.boeing.com