Page 20 - AAA APRIL - MAY 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE BOEING 797

Interior mock-up of the ATMR with
a 2-2-2 economy cross section.

Dennis Muilenburg who told AAA last year with that issue. As we sit here today (ISTAT), cross-section was just 55cm wider than a
that the company had not lost the right stuff the cost of developing and manufacturing 757 and 49cm narrower than the 767. These
but was sticking to its mid-2020 timeline. the airplane at a price that gives the airlines cabin dimensions allowed for 17.7in (45cm)-
But while the EIS maybe 2024, the launch value -- I don’t think that equation has been wide seats and an 18in (46cm) aisle. With the
could be this year according to John Plueger, solved.” Boeing has in mind two models of the world moving on since 1980 any new twin-
chief executive officer and co-founder of Air 797 to replace both the 757 and the 767. “One aisle design would certainly be wider again
Lease Corp. At ISTAT, he said he “wouldn’t be will be bigger and fly not quite as far, one will to permit a 18.5in (47cm)-wide seat and an
surprised if there is a decision to offer by this be smaller and fly farther,” Randy Tinseth, 18in aisle. Interestingly MDC also looked at a
year. That might be a bit early, a bit aggressive. Boeing’s VP Marketing told media at ISTAT. slightly different double bubble cross-section
But that would not surprise me.” Boeing has “To some extent you address the single- to enable the DC-11 to take LD3 containers,
been stung by the lead that Airbus gained aisle market, to some extent you address increasing its revenue-generation potential.
when it re-engined the A320 and doesn’t want the wide-body market and to some extent The overall drag penalty was put at three per
to get caught napping again. Many airlines you are stimulating growth where no one has cent. Boeing also toyed with the twin-aisle
had been leery of the twin-aisle design to do been before. And that has been a fascinating concept with its 7J7 and a full cabin mock-up
a single-aisle mission but United’s Levy said part of the whole project.” was shown at the 1987 Paris Airshow. It took
the airline gets it. “We’re convinced, we get it. In fact, Boeing, may later launch a third the twin-aisle concept further with a 4.8m
We understand the economics. We thought a version which would address the top end of cabin width that would permit 2-3-2 seating,
twin made no sense, but we walked through it the 737-market seating between 190 and 220 17in (43cm) wide seats and 18in (46cm) aisles
and had our questions answered. From what passengers. in economy. The 797 will go way beyond the
we’ve seen, we like it. But it’s a paper airplane. However, Airbus COO Customers says aerodynamic technology of A321 with an
Hopefully they’ll launch it.” that any twin aisle offering from Boeing all composite wing and possibly fuselage
Of course, what they get is that a twin- will never compete with a A321. Speaking at and an all new engine. And other airlines are
aisle 797 will dramatically ease major ISTAT he told media that “aerodynamically interested. According to the Seattle Times at
congestion that plagues US narrow body and physically, the twin-aisle will have more a panel discussion at ISTAT John Kirby, VP of
boarding times which can be 40 minutes and weight and more drag.” Not so, said McDonnell capacity planning at Alaska Airlines, said the
throw schedules into disarray. But Steven Douglas in 1980 when it claimed that its all airline was interest in buying the 797, while
Udvar-Hazy, Air Lease chairman warns that new DC-11 (Advanced Twin Medium Range) Daniel Pietrzak, MD of fleet transactions at
Boeing must move soon or risk losing the would have a fuel burn 24 per cent lower than Delta Air Lines, said it could be an ideal plane
market to Airbus. However, he isn’t entirely the 757. According to the MDC presentation, for trans-Atlantic routes.
convinced that Boeing has “figured out the DC-11 would have 14 first class seats at
the magic blend of price, performance and a 38-inch pitch in a 2-1-2 configuration and
production costs that will make the 797 a have 168 economy seats at 34-inch pitch in
best-seller.” “Boeing has to really wrestle a 2-2-2 pitch. The McDonnell Douglas DC-11
20 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE APRIL / MAY 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA