Mon, Feb 02, 2004
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.
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