|
SWA aircraft
For you SWA flyers...
Any thoughts on what the future plans hold for SWA and aircraft types? After the 737NG? Any more talk of a possible purchase of another airline? Can we expect to see the new contract soon? Thanks. |
Next to come??
After the B737NG, and on Boeing's 100th BDay......could this be the next to come??
China at it's best w/ 2014 right around the corner :confused: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C919 |
Originally Posted by SoCalGuy
(Post 739606)
After the B737NG, and on Boeing's 100th BDay......could this be the next to come??
China at it's best w/ 2014 right around the corner :confused: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C919 Both Boeing and Airbus are tracking the progress of several new technologies, particularly geared turbofans and open rotors, before committing to a design for the next generation narrowbody. It is a balancing act between waiting to include some new technology, but not waiting too long and letting the other guy get the drop on you. Due to the possibility of major airframe configuration changes, expect the mfgs to listen very carefull to what the airlines want this time (in the past they just built something, and assumed the buyers would come). SWA will probably be a major design influencer, since they will be ordering almost 600 of the things...if they don't like your design, you are starting the race in a distant second place. The opening engagement of the nextgen narrowbody war will be battle for the SWA order. |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 739621)
Probably not. Western certification is still a challenge for china (who's state-guided aerospace companies have recently undergone a major reorganization). Not to mention achieving western standards of performance, efficiency, (including green-ness), safety, reliability, and maintainability.
The point I was making......emerging countries (China) are on arriving on the development scene. The US airline industry in it's present state is tumultuous at best. Outsourcing of flying to foreign countries has been peaking on the horizon over the recent year. After all, didn't the UNITED STATES DOD (and powers to be) decide on an Airbus versus a Boeing as the new military refueling platform within the last few years?? Makes one take notice is all I was pointing out. The new decade is sure to be 'exciting'. In the end.....never say never. |
I think they'll keep it simple and order the 787 ;0
|
Originally Posted by SoCalGuy
(Post 739666)
Sorry if it was lost in translation.....was more/less being fuscous.:cool:
The point I was making......emerging countries (China) are on arriving on the development scene. The US airline industry in it's present state is tumultuous at best. Outsourcing of flying to foreign countries has been peaking on the horizon over the recent year. After all, didn't the UNITED STATES DOD (and powers to be) decide on an Airbus versus a Boeing as the new military refueling platform within the last few years?? Makes one take notice is all I was pointing out. The new decade is sure to be 'exciting'. In the end.....never say never. The russians and chinese intend to market locally and to non-first-world powers for starters...they can offer a cheaper product to those who can't afford the best of the west (and may not require western certification). The japanese are starting with an RJ, which will probably end up in the west. From there they will obviously move into bigger airplanes, if they succeed with the RJ. |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 739621)
SWA will probably be a major design influencer, since they will be ordering almost 600 of the things...if they don't like your design, you are starting the race in a distant second place. The opening engagement of the nextgen narrowbody war will be battle for the SWA order.
Boeing listened too much to SWA in the design of the 737 NG series and the result is a mediocre aircraft. I would much prefer Boeing start with a clean sheet of paper and design the best airplane they can. If SWA likes it: Great. If not: Too bad. Limiting your design so it has a common type rating (to make SWA happy) is starting with at least one hand tied behind your back. |
Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom
(Post 739729)
Boeing listened too much to SWA in the design of the 737 NG series and the result is a mediocre aircraft.
I would much prefer Boeing start with a clean sheet of paper and design the best airplane they can. If SWA likes it: Great. If not: Too bad. Limiting your design so it has a common type rating (to make SWA happy) is starting with at least one hand tied behind your back. I think if the follow-on airplane to the 737 is really good - much higher efficiency and lower costs - SWA will switch. Sure, there will be a short-term pain while they have two categories of planes, but in the end will be much lower costs for decades. If the 737 follow-on isn't that much of an improvement, I think SWA will force Boeing to take improvements from that aircraft and apply them to the 737. But the current 737NG is a mish-mash of design. Some of the design goes back to the 60's - and is probably correspondingly over designed and heavy. |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 739621)
Probably not. Western certification is still a challenge for china (who's state-guided aerospace companies have recently undergone a major reorganization). Not to mention achieving western standards of performance, efficiency, (including green-ness), safety, reliability, and maintainability.
Both Boeing and Airbus are tracking the progress of several new technologies, particularly geared turbofans and open rotors, before committing to a design for the next generation narrowbody. It is a balancing act between waiting to include some new technology, but not waiting too long and letting the other guy get the drop on you. Due to the possibility of major airframe configuration changes, expect the mfgs to listen very carefull to what the airlines want this time (in the past they just built something, and assumed the buyers would come). SWA will probably be a major design influencer, since they will be ordering almost 600 of the things...if they don't like your design, you are starting the race in a distant second place. The opening engagement of the nextgen narrowbody war will be battle for the SWA order. Neither Boeing or Airbus will have a new airframe for the midsize market inside of the next 15 years! Aircraft manufacturers have engaged in customer relationship management for many years with airlines responsible for major design input. This is nothing new! With respect to geared turbofans, only Pratt and Whitney has gone down that route and they are no longer a major player in the airline industry. Big guns GE and Rolls Royce are not interested in geared turbofans. US manufacturers need to adopt a more European philosophy! The challenge for Boeing is to come up with a family of aircraft like Airbus have done. Boeing are much more likely to be influenced by rival Airbus than SWA. The fact that Asia is months away from becoming the biggest aviation market in the world will also be significant. Similarly, neither PW nor GE are able to produce a family of large turbofans. Rolls Royce produces the only family of large turbofans in the world and this is unlikely to change. The airlines sure like fleet commonality! AL |
I'm not convinced that a "SWA-Express" unit isn't on the drawing boards even if its not ready to deploy. Since SWA management (not to be confused by pilots) still seem to be more "profit driven" than "ego driven" they may be willing to look into efficiency vs. airframe size. In that vein, Bombardier's new "C-Series" might work to cover both ends of the 100-150 seat market.
... just a guess, of course! |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:49 PM. |
Website Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands