+1.

Boeing simply offers a higher quality product, both in the business jet and commercial markets.

Quality aside, I don't like critical composite components with marginal inspection routines on large aircraft (we'll see how the 787's aluminum/carbon sandwich holds out), and I really don't like the avionics mentality.

FADECs and glideslope protection and whatnot are all well and good, and in certain situations (e.g. going for a swim in the hudson) they reduce pilot workload considerably and in a good way. But when I fly commercial, I want my pilot to have complete authority of the aircraft. Were I ever to fly such an aircraft personally, I'd want the same for the same reasons. In a "we need more of that to live" situation, I want the pilot to be able to melt the engines and bend the airframe if need be, as I'll take a limping, mostly flying airplane over a hole in the ground every day.

I will happily trade that capability for an increase in the possibility of pilot error hurting a system on the aircraft. That's what redundancy is for.

 

The system in its essence is the same but the way that it has been organized for ease of flying is better on the Boeing...

Just take a look at the overhead panel in both cockpits and see what's more ease to your eyes.

320



737




Other than that, I'd rather fly something that has been built and assembled in one place. Not a fuselage in France and an empennage in god knows where. Failures are less to occur and besides the GE90 on the 777 is every pilots dream!....Thrust that could go up to 115,000lbs PER engine.

I hope I've been of help answering your inquiry even though it's not entirely detailed.

 

^^ This.

 

I completely agree, and that's what I was getting at.

 

Yes but given that aviation accidents are almost exclusively caused by pilot error, with on average a succession of seven separate errors no less ultimately leading up to a crash, minimizing 'the human-factor' should (theoretically) result in safer air travel.

On the other hand, having a PC doing the flying bit means you can no longer do this:

YouTube - Tex Johnston rolls a 707

Yeehaa!

 

There are different flight control computers and flight control laws and in emergency situations the computers switch to another mode e.g Alternate or Abnormal Alternate Law which takes away almost all protections and allows the the pilot flying exceed limitations if necessary

In normal law there are a lot of good protections and guidances for speed,thrust,AoA,pitch,trim,load etc

@Striker,
I don't know too much about Boeing but as you mentioned the overhead panel,I have to say that I really like the layout of Airbus

but as you said before...it's not all that different anymore...and I think it's more of what you prefer ,like for example the IDrive of BMW(which I love) or the strange stuff of Audi


but on what I do agree with all of you is that in an Airbus you are more of a systems manager and experience a more synthetic way of flying,even when flying manually (auto pitch,auto trim bla..)
a raw data approach here and there might still be cool,no matter how it feels

btw....
did anybody of you fy first or business class in an A340-600 yet?
Freakin awesome imo!!!

 

I'm a Boeing fan.

But I did have an incredible experience back in 2005 involving both
Boeing and Airbus.

Flying out of Frankfurt on a Lufthansa A340, back to USA.
Due to security, had to take a bus out to the A/C out on the ramp.
They dropped us off and we had to walk to the A/C up ahead.
But where they dropped us off was absolutely amazing!

To my right as I walked to the A340, a large line of B747's gleaming in
beautiful Lufthansa livery. The beautiful blue tails with gold stork and the
neat winglets. These 747s were all in a perfect line pointing in the
direction I was walking.

To my left a large line of Airbus A340's and other Airbus A/C also in the
same gleaming livery, beautiful as well.

I mean these 2 lines of A/C were indentically lined up.
Both lines pointed in the same direction.

I was at ground level. These things are massive!. Beautiful gleaming white.
They looked like starships from the 25th century!

I was stunned. Beautiful A/C !!!!

I would have done almost anything to prolong this experience!

I appreciated Lufthansa setting up this lineup! I couldn't have done it
better. They have to be airplane nuts or fellow airplane nuts.

I was the last to get to the A340. The captain looked out the cockpit
window at me as I boarded, probably wondering where I had been.

I'd been for a short time in one of those forms of airplane heaven !!

Will never forget that!

Thanks Lufthansa, Boeing and Airbus !!

WOW!!

 

Boeing.

 

The one I am on at the time and that the flight is safe and uneventful. An experience pilot would also be nice. Otherwise I could care less. Nobody can determine what equipment they will be on when they plan a flight. I also always go non-stop business when ever it's available.

 

why?