Fetching the DreamlinerĪnd now I’m eagerly awaiting the day when I can head off to Seattle with the KLM acceptance team, who will bring the first Dreamliner home (scheduled for Saturday, 14 November). This new feature is made possible by the use of composite materials, which are stronger than aluminium, in constructing the fuselage.
COCKPIT B787 WINDOWS
On top of that, the view through the bigger windows is spectacular, in the cockpit as well as the cabin. What a wonderful experience! Anyone who has flown aboard a Dreamliner will tell you it really is a “dream” compared to the previous generation of aircraft – so quiet, pleasant and comfortable. We completed the flight without the uniform jacket and cap, but we were wearing the TUI uniform tie and stripes, so that no one realised there were “strangers” on board. We can use those experiences to guide our own training. It is remarkable to see pilots extending a helping hand to one another when it comes to safety and operations, despite the fact that they serve competing airlines.Īpart from getting an opportunity to “feel” and operate the actual aircraft, our colleagues at TUI also briefed us on their own experiences with the B787. This was arranged because KLM needs a number of pilots with experience to operate the first B787 flights. I was also one of a group of pilots who were given a chance to fly a B787 owned by our competitor TUIFLY. To keep their skills in shape, they will regularly undergo refresher courses until the real Dreamliners arrive. This is especially handy during take-off and landing, compared to previous display systems.Īround 90 pilots have already completed their B787 training and are eager to put their new training into practice in the near future. The most striking new feature for pilots is the so-called Head-Up Display (HUD), which projects the key cockpit instruments on the window, enabling pilots to monitor their instruments as they survey the scene outside. During these sessions, pilots practice the most critical manoeuvres, including engine failure at take-off, loss of cabin pressure at high altitude, and piloting the aircraft in extreme weather conditions.
COCKPIT B787 SIMULATOR
The preparatory training for B777 pilots consists of a several days’ theory training (self-study followed by an exam) and four 3.5-hour sessions in the simulator with an instructor. And because the visual systems are developing fast, the experience aboard a simulator is almost real. Because the Dreamliner is a lot like a flying server, packed with computer technology, it is relatively easy to simulate flight behaviour. You may be surprised to hear that this simulator is not made by Boeing, but by Thales, which supplies the rather unique technology. Since February, KLM has had its own Boeing 787 simulator at the training centre at Schiphol-Oost. This additional training lasts just over a week, which is followed by two supervised flights aboard the actual aircraft. At present, only experienced B777 pilots are being trained to fly the new B787.
COCKPIT B787 MANUALS
That means consulting the manuals to gain insight into new systems and technology aboard the Dreamliner, and of course simulator training to get a grip on the aircraft’s operating features. However, pilots will still have to do additional training. KLM will be the first airline in the world to utilise this option on a grand scale. The cockpit of the B787 and B777 are so similar, however, that we are allowed to fly both. Transferring to another type usually requires several months’ training. Traditionally, commercial pilots are only allowed to fly one type of plane. One of the unique aspects of the Dreamliner is that we will be operating it with the same accreditation we have for the B777. But in order to take a new aircraft into operation, we need to prepare extensively.īouke Rypma (pilot B787), Rudi van Berkel (senior instructor) and Harold van den Pol (training manager B777/787) Training for the B787 It confirms that we have faith in the future of our airline and that we will be working with the very latest technology, allowing us to offer our customers a cutting-edge product. The introduction of a new aircraft to the fleet is a big thrill to everyone at KLM. This is how we are preparing for the arrival of this new aircraft. I am one of the pilots involved in the introduction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner at KLM. Instead, I tend to focus on its looks and handling. As a pilot, I’m not particularly interested in the name of an aircraft. “What’s in a name?” – that was my first thought.
Save Saved Save for later Saved for later
0 kommentar(er)
