Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing Competitors

Write a brief statement about the B787 A380 B747-8 and the A350:

Boeing 787 was designed as a long-range, wide body, twin-engine commercial jet aircraft. Boeing quotes the B787 will lower operating cost, maintenance, and consume less fuel in comparison to the former commercial jets produced, such as its sister predecessor the 767. The 787 is the first airliner built out of light weight composite material dazzling the world with its building interest unlike any other design. By using the composite material (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) the entire basic operating weight is reduced creating a remarkable increase in efficiency.

The Boeing 787 is currently in production. The first Dreamliner was originally supposed to be delivered to All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 2008, but faced some unexpected delays and problems in the production with the new material. Now 3 years late the first 787 was put into motion for charter service by ANA on October 26, 2011 from Tokyo’s to Hong Kong in Japan. ANA has ordered 55 787’s to be put in service with 264 seats as they improve the aviation industry by buying new technology.  The Dreamliner Dream Tour is touring the world to show off its fancy and is currently in Dublin. According to a CNN article (click here) published in October of 2011 Boeing already has over 800 orders and at least 200 more prospective. You can learn more by visiting newairplane.com or Flight Global 

The Boeing 747-800 is the 4^th version in the Boeing 747 family. In comparison to former 747’s the 747-800 has a lengthened fuselage accommodating more passengers and improved efficiency. The reshaped “raked” wings allows for the increased weight and a higher fuel load.  The B-747 family has been a revolutionary aircraft since its first début in 1970 for largest passenger and payload capacity than the world has ever seen. There are two versions of the 747-8, the Intercontinental and Freighter for obvious reasons.  In December the FAA approved the 747-800 for certification. Currently the 36 orders for the aircraft are at work being prepared for shipment. The European Aviation Safety Agency is next to approve the aircraft opening up another continent of production possibilities. Obviously the 747-800 is a long-range wide body aircraft currently in production of both versions.

The Airbus 380 was designed as a competitor against the ever-faithful B 747-8. The A380 is the first double-decker airbus aircraft created. As a long-range, wide body aircraft, which is currently in production, it tries to compete with the B747-8.  In comparison, the A380 holds 525 passengers to the B747-8’s 467 passengers making the A380 the largest passenger carrying aircraft in the current market of airliners.  The A380 also tries to hold attention with a longer range by 300 nautical miles and almost a 10meter longer wingspan. As you can see the dimensions are strangely similar.  Read more about the comparisons at CNN Go.  

Currently in the developmental stages the Airbus 350 is a competitor of the B-787 as the first Airbus composite aircraft.  According to Airbus the A350 is 70% weight efficient by combining composite materials with titanium and aluminum alloys reducing the fuel consumption for long range and creating less maintenance. The A350 throws out the marketable factor by allowing options of seating capacity ranging from 250- 400 passengers in its wide body frame.

I’m sure it is not hard to see I am comparably bias towards the all American Boeing Aircraft, but even so I have to say the Airbus may take the lead in the commercial airline manufacturing industry. As a fan of hydraulic system in comparison to fly by wire electronics, as a pilot I would be more comfortable flying Boeing aircraft, but the Airbus’ electronics are taking off in popularity for its light weight compromise. Just by simple research of the already discussed aircraft above we can see Boeing is ahead of Airbus in designing and producing innovative technologies faster, but it seems Airbus is out doing Boeing in the end with improving those designs only slightly to have the advantage. Of course more Boeing orders have been made for those aircraft under review but taking into account Airbus is on a different timeline they are pretty consistent with each other.  Boeing and Airbus will always have their faithful customers they are constantly trying to sway to the other side. I am intrigued to see the impact these newer aircraft have on the industry.

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIS) is the parent company for the attention gaining airliner-manufacturing company Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). COMAC is currently in development the C919 and the ARJ21. The C191 is a narrow body commercial airliner will air a début in 2016, while the ARJ 21 is a twin turbofan airliner. The C919 has gained all the current hustle and bustle only carrying the allowable 160 passengers. COMAC hopes to attack the China, India, and Asia Pacific area by 2029. High hopes for an extremely infant company. COMAC has high hopes for expansion, but I am wary as to if the company will be any competition for the current leaders Airbus and Boeing. Although I do find it somewhat ironic we could potentially have the ABC’s  (Airbus, Boeing and COMAC) of the airline manufacturing industry it’s rather unlikely in my opinion. You can read more about the optimistic competitor by reading the Smart Planet blog article. (Click here)