Page 20 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE NEW AIRCRAFT

the end of October 2015, in time for the from Airbus and Boeing. Southwest revealed
aircraft’s maiden rollout. Compared to the its choices for the interior of its 737-800 and
newest Next-Generation 737s in operation 737MAX airplanes, when it showcased the
today, the 737MAX is expected to deliver seats chosen for the new aircraft. The new
an improvement in fuel efficiency of 14%. seats made by B/E Aerospace are the widest
This will increase to 20% over the earliest on any 737 and passengers will be able to
Next-Generation 737s that entered service experience the seats on Southwest’s new
decades ago. The LEAP-1B engines alone 737-800s which arrive in a few months. The
contribute to a fuel efficiency improvement seats feature an adjustable headrest, space
of 11%. The new jetliner will also be able to store a personal device, thinner armrests
to fly farther up to a distance of 1,074 km and a wider seat.
as compared to Next-Generation 737. A Airbus chose to go with two engine
number of aerodynamic improvements options on the NEO Family, the P&W Pure
have helped improve fuel efficiency, these Power PW1100G-JM engines and CFM
include: advanced technology winglets that International LEAP-1A. Both have completed
contribute to 1% improvement in efficiency their respective certification tasks and are
for distances up to 500 nautical miles, revised continuing with testing. The Geared Turbofan
tail design that reduces drag by 1% as a result technology is a major advance in aero-
of removal of vortex generators and better engine design and one that has taken Pratt
engine-wing integration has reduced drag & Whitney more than two decades and $10
and improved fuel efficiency by 0.5%. Boeing billion to develop. The addition of a gearbox
has also said that per seat operating costs between the engine fan and low pressure
will be lower as compared to the A320neo by compressor and turbine, allowed the engine
8%. One aspect that has not received much fan to operate at lower rpms making it more
public attention is the cabin choices that have efficient but also enabled the low pressure CFM has commenced deliveries of
LEAP-1B engines to Boeing for the
been made for the new single aisle offerings compressor and turbine to spin faster. Not new 737 MAX.

20 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA