777 Claims Friendlier Paint, Delivery Processes

The Boeing 777 program is implementing 10 initiatives that will eliminate 5.5 million pounds CO2 emitted and 300,000 gallons of jet fuel used annually during the 777 delivery process. The first customer to benefit from all 10 of the initiatives is Air New Zealand, which took delivery of a 777-300ER jetliner November 7.

"Air New Zealand is excited to participate," said Duncan Mairs, Air New Zealand's technical manager currently based in Seattle overseeing the airline's 777-300ER deliveries. "We have a wide range of environmental initiatives under way across the business. Being able to find ways to lessen the environmental impact of building an airplane is another excellent step on our journey to becoming the world's most environmentally sustainable airline," he said.

During the 20-day paint and delivery process, Boeing workers incorporated new processes including reducing the number of times potable water and hydraulic filters are changed, using chromate-free primer in the painting process, and enhancing recycling and use of electric carts instead of gas-powered vehicles.

"A team of employees identified redundancies in testing," said Jeff Klemann, vice president Everett Delivery Center. "One idea was to eliminate engine-run tests already performed by GE, the 777's engine manufacturer. This will result in a reduction of 1.4 million pounds of CO2 in 2012 as well as less community noise and emissions." 

The team also improved flight planning efficiency for pre-delivery test flights. Reducing fuel loads reduces airplane weight, which improves fuel economy. By careful pre-planning flight crews also are able to reduce flight times. The flight-planning initiatives will save a total of 193,155 gallons of jet fuel annually.

The chrome-free primer used on the recently delivered Air New Zealand jet reduces the environmental impact of the paint and reduces potential health and safety risks during painting. It also eliminates the need for special handling of paint waste and clean-up, and designated off-site disposal areas. These advantages also provide benefit when the airplane is prepared for repainting.

Nine of the environmental initiatives are now implemented on all 777 airplanes delivered. Use of chrome-free primer is optional. Air New Zealand will use chrome-free primer on future 777-300ER deliveries.

FMI: www.boeing.com ; Video