To 5.53 PM is started, a Boeing 787-900 to the Australian Airline in London, and tomorrow land for lunch, local time in Sydney. Over 19 hours, the machine will be in the air. With on Board, 4 pilots and 52 passengers, including some journalists and scientists.

Starting in 2022 Qantas wants to take the ultra long-haul flight into the program. It’s an old dream of the industry, is the last frontier of aviation, such as Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said before the departure. But want to endure passengers really 19 hours on an Economy seat, is the demand for a such a long travel really exist? Or behind the test flight, just a big PR machine, because Qantas today also the 99. Celebrates birthday and, thus, to 100. Year of existence passes?

A pilot, the Boeing 787 eyes with the anniversary paint before departure to London. Image:

Qantas CEO Joyce reiterated in London the reputable Background of the experiment. The Airline believes in, to find for the ultra-long flight is enough customers. The show the 2018, introduced in the route from Perth to London, said Joyce. Perth is in Western Australia, the flight to the UK will take just under 18 hours. And the route is a success, as Joyce says. The utilization spent on average at 95 percent, and it recorded the highest satisfaction levels of all routes. “It is very unusual that the longest flight gets such a high rating.”

Qantas is encouraged by this successful launch – the passengers were safe, to endure one to two hours longer on the plane, says Joyce. Approximately 19.5 hours, the second planned ultra would take a long flight from New York to Sydney – this was flown in October for the first time, in December, a Test follows the completion of the project on the same route again. With 16’200 kilometers, this connection is somewhat shorter, on the flight from London to Australia, the machines benefit from a tailwind, which is why the 17’800-Kilometer-long flight will take approximately the same length.

is not quite ready for that but the technique. The Boeing 787-900 is not loaded during today’s test flight is full. In order to create the track really, with a full load, has Qantas asked the aircraft manufacturer for years to build an extra variant. Airbus and Boeing have special versions of existing planes in the race – the Frenchman is an Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range), the Americans want to make the flight with a special Boeing 777.

Also, for the passengers, the aircraft is to be rebuilt. There should be zones where the traveller a bit and stretching can move. So Qantas have made so far good experiences, says CEO Joyce. Also, handles on the ceiling to animate to light Exercises. In addition, the food is adjusted, it should be lighter fare.

scientists monitor Crew

The longest flight is only the second Time tested. In 1989, the Experiment was carried out with a 747 Jumbo, this had to be completely rebuilt to create space for additional fuel tanks. Space for passengers, it had no more. The aircraft is today in a Museum in Australia.

This Time, 52 subjects with flying. To do this, scientists monitor pilots and passengers during flight include. The pilots, wearing EEG devices to measure the nerve activity in the brain, in addition, the Cockpit will be filmed with three cameras. It is also investigating how the Crew and the passengers during the 19 hours on Board behavior, how you sleep, eat, and different Light effects affect how.

The pilots, here at the main trial in the Simulator, will be monitored during the flight. Image: Qantas

for such a flight should ever be offered, it took the Airline a special permit, as the Crews would no longer be in use as allowed. Also with the pilots, the conditions would have to be negotiated for such extreme range. This is all under the assumption that the 20-hour operation for the Crew to switch with Layer and rest breaks is even possible.

CO2

to compensate for It, the question of the impact on the climate remains. For the flight test machines were used, coming fresh from the factory in Seattle, which is a long-distance experiment, so that part of the delivery flight. Qantas wants to also compensate for the CO2 emissions of the Tests.

For a single passenger can calculate compensation portals currently only the flight with a stopover. Currently, Qantas flies the route from London via Singapore to Sydney. This 2.8 tons CO2 per passenger poking, calculated, for example, the Swiss-based service provider Myclimate. Cost 81 Francs.

Qantas has been testing the route with a Boeing 787. So far, an Airbus A380 (in the Background) is used, with a stopover in Singapore. Photo: Jason Reed (Reuters)

the nonstop flight, it should be less, because the direct route is shorter and has a takeoff and a landing is eliminated. To fly sustainable, it is recommended, therefore, in General, to choose direct flights. (anf/dmj)

Created: 14.11.2019, 13:31 PM