F R 2 - 9 7

Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 2/97 INSIDE THE 737-700 COCKPIT by Norbert Burgner The cockpit design of the new 737 generation had two aimpoints: First, the pilot's transition from the current to the new generation was to be facilitated as much as possible and, secondly, a basic similarity to the 777 flight deck was to be achieved on the way to a commonality of the entire Boeing product scale. According to Boeing 737 chief pilot Mike Hewett, the handling characteristics are the main key for the pilot to feel comfortable with the aircraft, which is also a significant step to achieve the desired cockpit commonality. The new aircraft are designed to have the same handling qualities as the current versions. Several adjustments, for example of the high-lift devices, had to be done to achieve this. Being asked if this design goal could not have been achieved with a fly-by-wire flight control system Hewett answered that as long as the goal could be achieved with simple measures, a fly-by-wire system would be the expensive alternative. With a fly-by-wire system, the 737 would cost $55 million instead of $35 million. Taking a seat on the flight deck everything looks the same as in the 777 cockpit, being dominated by large state-of-the-art LCD displays. Still, this configuration is useless for the commonality within the 737 family since the flight decks of the -300, -400, and -500 are based on analogous electromechanical instruments, added by two CRT displays for each pilot. Mike Hewett explains the idea behind the concept: "In order to keep the option of growing into the 777 and later into the 747, 757, and 767, realizing the cockpit commonality with the current 737 models at the same time, we had to find a solution that offered both alternatives. The answer laid in a programmable system. In the new 737 cockpit, we can choose via a floppy disc between the two cockpit layouts. The formats of the LCD displays are large enough to copy and present the conventional layout, ensuring the common type rating for both 737 generations to our customers." From page 12 of FLUG REVUE 2/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 2/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated January 10, 1997