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Old 03-27-2009 | 12:21 AM
  #34  
Gillegan
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: B777 Captain
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I've been flying and instructing in the 777 for some time now and have to say, it's the best plane I've flown. You asked for some specific comments so here it goes:
  1. ECL (Electronic Checklist) - it's the best thing since sliced bread. Everything (other than performance calculations) can be done from the ECL. Parts of non-normal checklists that are deferred to other normal checklists are deferred automatically. It is a quantum leap forward in managing non-normal situations. According to the guys who have flown both, the A380 ECL is light years behind the Boeing.
  2. Cockpit seat - it sucks. It's hard and uncomfortable and proper adjustment is anything but intuitive.
  3. Fly-By-Wire - Pretty good. Where the Airbus gets all wrapped up in various and changing control laws, Boeing has made it pretty transparent to the pilot. In some ways that's a trap also. Because it's fly-by-wire, it works best when "pointed and left alone". Because it's almost transparent to the pilots, they tend to use a lot more control inputs than is actually required or desirable. It's interesting to note that the guys who hand-fly it the best usually are coming off one of the Airbus FBW aircraft. The -300 is a very pitch sensitive aircraft, particularly when single engine.
  4. Performance - I'm going to have to take issue with Skyone on that - it's a big airplane and by definition, will be operating closer to edges of the envelope, particularly in non-normal situations and in relation to runway lengths etc. than smaller types. It carries a lot of payload a long way, has lots of cargo volume (-300 has more than a 747-400) and a fairly light DOW. I find that performance/payload wise, it's a very flexible aircraft.
  5. Reliability - My experience is that it is very reliable. The engineers tell me that it rarely breaks but that when it does, it tends to be more of a drama than the Airbus which breaks all the time but fixes up rather quickly (reboot the aircraft).
I could go on but I won't. I could probably go to the 380 in a few years but honestly have no desire to. If the 777 is the last airplane I fly in my career that will be okay with me.
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