FedEx Seeks Common Type Rating For B-777F - B-787F
UPS – September 9, 2011 10:15 am EDT
FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX – News) has initiated talks with Boeing (NYSE: BA – News) in a proposal with the FAA to generate a ‘common’ type rating between the new B-777F and a proposed B-787F. FedEx Express intends to operate both aircraft as freighters in [their] overnight express freight business.
FedEx is the largest operator of the Boeing 777 freighter. With the recent delivery of the first B-787 to Japan carrier ANA, FedEx Express (NYSE: FDX) is looking for a wide body long term replacement for it’s aging DC/MD-10 and Airbus A-300 fleets. With the conversion of their DC-10 aircraft to MD-10’s, FedEx was able to rapidly expand their wide body fleet and efficiently use the same crew members trained on the much more complex MD-11, an aircraft that weighs nearly 200,000 lbs (90,500 kg) more than the much lighter MD-10-10 aircraft.
The B-787F would provide significant savings in both economic and time efficiencies because of fuselage size and cargo [can] loading transferability, which the B-767 does not offer. A common type rating between the B-777F and B-787F, would allow crews to be utilized in both aircraft. Cockpit design engineering is to be provided by Mattel Corp (NYSE: MTL) and Testers (NYSE: TST) with both aircraft being delivered with virtually the same cockpit. Insignificant differences would be in weight, and some minor flight characteristics easily negated by the ‘state-of-the-art’ fly-by-wire system(s), and a little plastic and glue. These same types of differences were considered and ultimately approved by the FAA with the MD-10 certification and common [MD-11] type rating. Commonality of training and type rating certificates will enhance training efficiency and allow FedEx Express to use typical international crews in the domestic environment during periods of system stress, such as holidays.
An announcement is expected no earlier than September 2011, but more likely in concurrence with the FAA’s new flight time/duty time regulations that has recently been postponed indefinitely.