Washington – Airplane manufacturers are developing airliners with some technological bells and whistles such as wireless in-flight entertainment and “virtual sky” mood lighting, but some of the most important things to penny-pinching airlines and travelers are the basics – air travel that’s cheap and convenient.
That was the result of discussions during the first day of “Inside Aerospace,” a two-day conference organized by the Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Colorado Springs-based Space Foundation in Washington on Monday.
With home computers, “every year, the speed of the computer doubles, and every year, there’s a percentage of the population that’s willing to go out there and pay an extra $500 to purchase that new computer,” said Airbus North America vice president of sales Andrew Shankland. “And that just doesn’t happen in our business.”
Among the traveling public, the greatest criterion is price, Shankland said. Airlines also want to find ways to decrease the cost of owning and operating aircraft.
Technology can improve productivity and lower costs for airlines, and it can mean more flights, more direct flights and more comfort for passengers, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of product development Dan Mooney said during the conference.
“Passengers have always desired fast point-to-point service,” Mooney said. “I think we’ll continue to see that desire for long-range, nonstop missions.”
Still, carriers want to be able to differentiate their airplanes and their in-flight experience. Airbus is planning the mood lighting for its new A350 to begin flying in 2010, for example.
It’s a balancing act.
“Anything that we can do to improve the travel experience for the public while not increasing the cost for our airline customers is very much appreciated,” Shankland said.
Launching new jetliners such as the superjumbo Airbus A380 is the best chance to put new technology into aircraft, he said. Meanwhile, Boeing is developing the rival 787 Dreamliner.
“We think the 787 would really fit in Denver as far as range and operational capabilities,” Denver International Airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said. “We think it would be a good airplane for airlines to use in Denver.”
The 787 could land at DIA without a problem, he said, and DIA could accommodate the A380 after minor improvements.
Longer term, Mooney said “we have to be ready for that future that we can’t so easily predict.” Perhaps fuel could become much more expensive or less available, or environmental requirements could become much more stringent.
Mooney said Boeing is putting together a suite of concept airplanes such as low-fuel use, low noise, low operating cost, alternate fuel, mega freighters and low atmospheric impact planes, that may not ever by developed but will help put together technology for the future.
It’s one of the ways “we’re trying to develop that bookshelf of technologies,” Mooney said.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
