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Twitch chat successfully barrel-rolled a ‘Flight Simulator’ plane
Twitch chat users successfully flew a plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
British Airways will power some of its jets with trash
British Airways is taking a cue from Doc Brown for how it'll fuel its next generation of aircraft. No, not by bolting a flux capacitor inside the cockpit, but by turning to garbage for fuel. The airline has announced a partnership with renewable fuels outfit Velocys in an effort to reduce emissions as much as 50 percent by 2050, with plans to slowly introduce the alternative fuel over the next ten years and drop greenhouse gases by over 60 percent.
YouTube's multi-angle video meets Boeing's acrobatic 787 flight
At the Paris Air Show earlier this week, Boeing showed off a few of its 787-9 Dreamliner's tricks, including a near vertical takeoff. This new YouTube video shows the flight demo from several angles: one has the fuel-efficient plane in full view, another gives you the chance to watch what went on inside the cockpit and the last one shows the flight from the plane's perspective. YouTube launched multiple camera angles as an experimental feature earlier this year, making the option available to select users. It uses an algorithm that syncs all the angles as you play the video, and you only have to either click on any of them or press their respective numbers on the keyboard to switch views.
To keep a Boeing Dreamliner flying, reboot once every 248 days
The 787 Dreamliner has been plagued with battery woes since its early days, to the point where the Federal Aviation Administration kept it from flying the skies in the past. And while those technical difficulties are apparently taken care of, Boeing's flagship airliner could be on the way to more trouble soon. According to the FAA, there's a software bug in the 787 Dreamliner that can cause its electrical system to fail and, as a result, lead to "loss of control" of the plane. But why? The FAA says this is triggered by the aircraft's electrical generators, which could give out if they have been powered on continuously for over eight months.
Boeing's Dreamliner batteries caught on fire for a few reasons
Curious about what the official word regarding the Boeing Dreamliner's faulty battery is? Of course you are. The National Transportation Safety Board says that the reason for the non-fatal fire was due to "deficiencies in the design and certification process," and has a few fingers to point. The board says that Boeing itself is at fault, calling its safety assessments of the lithium-ion units insufficient. Yuasa, the battery manufacturer, isn't free from blame either. As The Wall Street Journal notes, Yuasa's production process apparently allowed for defects that could cause short-circuiting in the battery's internal cells, and the final battery design was actually different than the one tested and certified. The NTSB goes on to call out the Federal Aviation Administration for its lack of oversight regarding the outsourcing of components in the Dreamliner as well.
The Big Picture: Boeing 787-9 performs extreme maneuvers at Farnborough
Boeing's original Dreamliner may be old news by now, but a longer variant -- the 787-9 -- is about to enter passenger service with Air New Zealand. That extended aircraft is also on display for would-be airline customers this week at the Farnborough Airshow, just south of London. With a very light load on board, Boeing's able to show off its latest plane with some extreme maneuvers, including steep takeoffs and high-bank turns just feet off the ground. The moves may make you uneasy, but they're designed to demonstrate the aircraft's flexibility -- you won't experience any of these intense angles on a commercial flight, but you can get a feel for what the new 787 can do in the video after the break. [Photo credit: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Airbus' latest jet will bring 3D movies to the skies
While Airbus is busy testing its answer to Boeing's Dreamliner ahead of its first passenger flights later this year, the aviation giant has also found time to give its A330 wide-body jet a makeover. Promising more seats and improved aerodynamics, which will reduce fuel consumption by 14 percent per seat, the plane-maker is also promising to drag the A330neo's in-flight entertainment into the 21st century. As well as WiFi, mobile connectivity and HD video, Airbus' new plane will also offer passengers the chance to watch films in 3D. Chances are you'll need glasses to enjoy the latest 3D movies when the A330neo takes to the skies in late 2017 -- hopefully Airbus will also account for those of us who are always placed behind someone who just loves to recline.
Singapore 21: a farewell trip on the world's longest flight
As of tomorrow, the longest flight in the world will shuttle passengers on a 747-400 from Sydney, Australia to Dallas, Texas. That 15-hour, 25-minute hop on board Qantas 7 may not be the lengthiest in duration, but at 8,578 miles gate to gate, it'll lead the industry in miles flown. For a few more hours, however, Singapore Airlines' decade-long run from Newark, N.J., to Singapore remains the record holder for both time (more than 18 hours) and distance (9,534 miles). It's a journey that's been on the bucket lists of the world's most ambitious aviation enthusiasts since the city-state's namesake airline first launched the service in 2004, and following tonight's final jaunt, this record-setting A340-500 will touch down at Changi Airport for the very last time. Despite this cheerless loss, it's a spectacular time in the world of aviation. Sure, we don't have our supersonic Concorde replacement just yet, and the Dreamliner rollout was not without significant heartbreak, but the past few years have represented a tremendous period, with banner launches from both Airbus and Boeing that will change the way we fly forever. But as with any category, aircraft manufacturing and design advances also serve to highlight the shortcomings of previous-generation products. The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 make massive efficiency boosts a reality, leading gas-guzzling greats like the aging A340-500 to a premature retirement. In this case, the A345's departure from Singapore's fleet represents not only better things to come, but also the loss of a landmark route -- it's an unavoidable compromise, and with the end in sight, I drained my frequent flier account in order to score a ticket, and set out to discover the significance of Singapore Flight 21's retirement.
United Airlines puts Dreamliner back in the air after four-month grounding
Four months after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with an emergency airworthiness directive, United Airlines is putting the fuel-friendly plane back in the air today. The Dreamliner had overheating issues with its lithium-ion battery, which saw two notable failures prior to its January grounding, but a recent revamp of the battery system might put some fliers' fears to rest. It's worth nothing that the FAA approved the battery fix despite the fact that it doesn't quite address the root cause of the problem, but airline executives don't appear to be overly concerned -- both Boeing CEO Jim McNerney and United CEO Jeff Smisek will be on today's Dreamliner flight from Houston to Chicago. For the moment, United's Dreamliner is limited to domestic flights but if all goes well, it'll return to international travel on June 10th, with a flight from Denver to Tokyo.
Ethiopian Airlines completes first commercial 787 Dreamliner flight since grounding
Nervous flyer? If so, it's probably best you weren't heading from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on business recently. If you were, you might have found yourself onboard the first commercial 787 Dreamliner flight since the global fleet was grounded due to concerns over battery failures. The flight comes just days after the FAA approved Boeing's fix, prompting deliveries of the new craft to resume. With Japan already having cleared the 787 for takeoff, we can expect to see a few more of them in our skies soon. We're more interested in joining the mile-high Android club.
Japan clears 787s for takeoff pending FAA-approved battery fix
Japan's transport minster, Akihiro Ohta, announced today that the country's airliners can resume flying grounded Boeing 787 Dreamliners once a newly approved battery system is installed. "We have reached a conclusion that there is no problem with the judgment by the FAA," Ohta told the Associated Press. Back in January two separate fires caused by the 787's lithium ion batteries led to the FAA temporarily grounding all Dreamliners. Japan's decision comes shortly after Boeing's CEO, Jim McNerney, stated during the company's recent fiscal conference call that he expected all 50 aircraft to be fixed by the middle of May. Japanese airline officials are forecasting a slightly longer timeline, with the country's 787s returning to the skies around June and test flights scheduled to begin on April 28th.
Boeing resumes 787 Dreamliner deliveries in early May, finishes retrofits soon after
Now that Boeing has received the all-clear to implement its battery fix for the 787 Dreamliner, aviation buffs have mostly been left waiting to hear when they can once again climb aboard the advanced jet. It might be a short wait, according to CEO Jim McNerney. During a fiscal results call, he anticipated 787 deliveries resuming in early May, with all 50 aircraft fixed by the middle of that month. Passengers will just have to wait for airlines to resume (or establish) scheduled flights before they can once more enjoy some modern mid-air luxury.
FAA approves Boeing 787 battery fix, gives the green light for repairs
It's been a few weeks since the Boeing 787 successfully completed testing, but the FAA has finally weighed in on the proposed tweaks to the plane's faulty lithium-ion batteries. Today the organization approved Boeing's battery fix, which means the aircraft maker could soon end the three-month grounding of all Dreamliners. The real action will come next week, when the FAA will issue instructions for making changes to the 787s and -- according to an official statement -- "publish in the Federal Register the final directive that will allow the 787 to return to service." Airlines operating the Dreamliner, including United and ANA, will be required to install containment and venting systems in addition to replacing the batteries with the new, modified components. This is certainly some good news for Boeing; these past few months haven't exactly been easy on the company's pocketbook (or reputation), but it still has plenty of work ahead in retrofitting its 50-strong fleet.
Boeing 787 completes battery testing, ready for re-evaluation by FAA
Boeing's Dreamliner finally appears ready for the FAA to give it another shot. After being grounded in January the 787 has undergone numerous tweaks and refinements to improve the safety and reliability of the aircraft. The final test before submitting to the federal regulatory body for commercial approval was this morning's flight, which included a new battery system built by GS Yuasa Corp. After a roughly two-hour journey that began at 10:39am in Washington, the company reported that the upgraded batteries performed "as intended during normal and non-normal flight conditions." The next step will be submitting the proposed changes to the FAA, which will then decide if the proposed fixes are enough to return the jet to active duty. A two day hearing is set for April 23rd, at which point the fate of this current incarnation of the 787 will be decided.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner completes flight check, certification still awaits (update)
It wouldn't surprise us to learn that more than a few Boeing officials had their fingers crossed this morning in Everett, Washington. That's because the 787 Dreamliner took to the skies for the first time since being grounded in an effort to demonstrate a proper fix to that nasty overheating issue that's plagued the airliner's battery. The test flight, known as a functional flight check, lasted approximately two hours and will give the folks at Boeing an opportunity to examine data from the outing in advance of the 787's single certification flight -- a process that's otherwise known as one and done. Update: This article originally stated that this is the first time the 787 Dreamliner has flown since being grounded, which is incorrect. Today's test flight is the first time the 787 Dreamliner has flown since the FAA-approved battery fix has been in place.
FAA approves 787 Dreamliner certification plan for testing Boeing's battery fix
The last we heard in the saga of the grounded 787 Dreamliner came last month, when Boeing announced that it had developed a "permanent" fix to the airliner's battery fire issues. Today, the FAA issued its approval of the company's certification plan, allowing Boeing to begin testing its proposed battery improvements. Boeing's fix includes redesigned internal batteries, better insulation and new venting system, and the FAA has given the go-ahead for testing prototype versions of the setup on two aircraft. The agency originally cleared Boeing for limited testing and ferrying of 787s last month, but completing the FAA certification program is key for the company returning to commercial service. Don't get set on a first-class ticket to Japan just yet, though; these things take time.
Boeing touts a 'permanent' fix for 787 Dreamliner batteries, Japan stays cautious
There's been talk for weeks of Boeing developing a fix for the 787 Dreamliner's battery fire troubles. If the aircraft maker has its way, that should soon translate to action. The company's commercial airplane chief, Raymond Conner, tells reporters that the company has a "permanent" fix that would place three layers of protection around the batteries and, theoretically, head off fires and their causes. It sounds like just the ticket -- the challenge will be getting everyone else to feel the same way. American investigators believe the batteries are at fault, but their Japanese counterparts haven't yet ruled out external factors. With this kind of ongoing debate, we're not about to book a 787 to Tokyo for spring break.
WSJ: Airbus to drop lithium-ion batteries from A350 to meet delivery schedule
Amidst the ongoing brouhaha over rival Boeing's Dreamliner-grounding battery troubles, Airbus has decided not to use lithium-ion batteries in its newest aircraft, the A350, according to industry officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The European plane maker is said to be making the change in an effort to stick to its plan of pressing the jet into commercial service by the middle of next year. While the craft's early test flights this summer will still make use of four lithium-ion batteries for on-ground electrical power and as backup in the air as originally intended, it will be delivered to airlines with conventional nickel-cadmium batteries instead. Safety considerations are undoubtedly part of the picture, but since the A350 is already behind schedule by a couple of years, its manufacturer can't afford any further delays -- anticipated in case regulators find fault with the use of lithium-ion packs in flights. As Boeing struggles to find a fix and get the 787 back into the air, it seems Airbus has taken the easy way out. [Image credit: Airbus S.A.S / H. Goussé]
FAA clears Boeing to fly 787 Dreamliners in limited testing, ferrying
Fans of the 787 Dreamliner haven't had much reason to cheer for the past few weeks when the FAA grounded all US jets over concerns of battery failures. While there's no update on the reported fix, Boeing can at least say that the 787 is clear to fly again. Sort of. The FAA has given permission to Boeing to conduct flight tests under certain conditions. The company has to conduct battery- and insulation-related pre-flight inspections, watch battery behavior like a hawk, use only its own pilots and fly over unpopulated areas. Harsh terms to be sure, although we won't have to wait for the dry runs to see the 787 airborne once again: the FAA also gave Boeing clearance to ferry one of the airliners from Fort Worth, Texas to Everett, Washington after some paint work. It went off without a hitch, as you'd infer from the photo above. We're still some distance away from once again hopping on Dreamliners for long-haul flights, but the aircraft will at least have a chance to flex their muscles before they resume their main duties.
FAA grounds all US Boeing 787 Dreamliners after second lithium ion battery failure
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner began joining US airline fleets last year, but a fire started by the plane's lithium ion batteries last week put it on the docket for a review by the FAA. After a second mishap caused by the bird's batteries, the FAA is now requiring US airlines to temporarily ground all Dreamliners. In addition, the agency said it's given international aviation authorities a heads-up so they can take similar measures. According to the regulatory outfit, the battery failures could botch critical systems and structures, in addition to starting fires. In order to sort things out, the FAA says it'll work with Boeing on a plan that'll fix the issues and put the craft back in commission as "quickly and safely as possible." Hit the jump for the FAA's full statement. Update: A United spokesman shared the following statement, confirming that passengers scheduled to fly on the Dreamliner will travel on other aircraft, instead: "United will immediately comply with the Airworthiness Directive and will work closely with the FAA and Boeing on the technical review as we work toward restoring 787 service. We will begin re-accommodating customers on alternate aircraft."
