Architecture and Design

Can Boeing fulfill its ‘dream’?

Boeing finally unveiled the first fully assembled 787 ‘Dreamliner’ passenger jet, constructed of a revolutionary mix of carbon fiber and plastic, a design that engineers claim is more environmentally friendly than traditional aluminum planes.

The design is supposed to be more comfortable, fuel efficient, easy to maintain, and durable.

But amidst all the talk of the plane’s “green” credentials, skeptics point out some of the limitations of Boeing’s newest design, as reported by Tom Symonds of BBC News:

While even environmentalists welcome the attempts to make planes greener, they don’t think the 787 is going to do much to reduce the impact of aviation on climate change.

They believe that fuel-efficient planes are simply going to allow airlines to carry the same number of passengers, more cheaply. And that allows them to cut ticket prices - which in turn will encourage more of us to fly.

Result: the airlines buy more planes anyway. And some air travel experts believe carbon-fibre composites - in the quantities being used by Boeing - are far from tried and tested.

China has jumped on the opportunity to purchase the planes, which have an average list price of $162 million, Shanghai Daily reported.

Air China and China Eastern Airlines have each ordered 15 of the new planes. China Southern Airlines has ordered 10, Shanghai Airlines nine and Hainan Airlines eight.

Both Shanghai Airlines Chairman Zhou Chi and China Eastern Chairman and President Li Fenghua commented on the potential for the Boeing jets to help expand global coverage.

So even though these planes are meant to be better for the friendly skies, they might end up creating more air traffic, and that can’t make the planet happy.

Sphere: Related Content

© 2007 ResponsibleChina.com: Environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in China..