A video clip shared over the weekend by Just Planes offers an insight into the complex process of landing large commercial passenger jets. The video is recorded from behind the pilot, showing how she navigates the plane using one hand while her other hand controls buttons and levers in the cockpit.
??✈️ 787 landing at @JFKairport
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? https://t.co/l210AgbD0n
=================#avgeek #pilot #pilotlife #boeing @RAM_Maroc #jfkairport #b787 pic.twitter.com/dDNJf0VFDH— Just Planes (@justplanes) September 25, 2022
The footage shows the pilot expertly bringing the plane down to a lower and lower altitude until eventually landing on the runway and slowing down. The clip ends the plane gradually comes to a halt on the ground.
The plane seen in the video is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner which landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The 787 cockpit looks different from other Boeing cockpits but is designed to be operated in much the same way. For an experienced pilot, training to use the 787 can be completed in as few as five days. Nonetheless, the complex controls and equipment on board make landing the plane an impressive feat.
What is the 787?
The Boeing 787 is a family of planes that includes three variants – the 787-8 Dreamliner, the 787-9 Dreamliner, and the 787-10 Dreamliner. Each variant can carry 248, 296, and 336 passengers respectively. All of the planes use the GEnx-1B / Trent 1000 engine, though each variant is slightly greater in length than the last.
Boeing describes the 787 as “the most innovative and efficient airplane family flying today.”
The 787 was specifically designed to improve passenger experience when traveling internationally. It combines industry-leading technology with a more spacious design and fuel efficiency.
“The industry-leading technology of the 787 Dreamliner is creating remarkable opportunities for airlines around the world and dramatically improving the air travel experience,” Boeing explains.
“We call it the Dreamliner effect. The airplane’s unparalleled fuel efficiency and range flexibility enables carriers to profitably open new routes as well as optimize fleet and network performance. And for their passengers, an experience like none other in the air, with more comfort and less fatigue. The Dreamliner effect. That’s a better way to fly.”
The 787 is not just designed to be more comfortable for passengers but is also a compelling option for airlines thanks to its lower operating costs. Boeing pitches the aircraft as consuming 20% less fuel, costing 30% less to maintain, and requiring a 15% overall lower operating cost. The plane also offers more cargo volume, higher speeds, and a longer range for new direct routes.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
