There are plenty of debates about the best seat on a plane. But for an aviation geek, the choice is easy: in the cockpit. Unfortunately, getting onto the flight deck is virtually impossible in the post-9/11 world, but Boeing has put together the next best thing. It's a virtual ride inside the cockpit of the 787, complete with a 360-degree, user-controllable view from the jumpseat and lots of interesting audio from pilots, air traffic controllers and the airplane's own audio warnings.
The virtual flight deck ride starts in Portland, Oregon and finishes at Boeing Field in Seattle, the test fleet's home base. You can listen to test pilots Heather Ross and Doug Benjamin during the takeoff and landing, or switch to commentary from chief test pilot Randy Neville as you scroll your way around the cockpit.
The ride is just like the jumpseat experience we enjoyed earlier this year when Neville invited us into the cockpit during a leg of the 787 Dream Tour, complete with the bouncing takeoff run. With the radio chatter from air traffic controllers and the pilots, the jumpseat ride gives aviation fans a chance to see the most modern commercial cockpit in the world during the critical times of takeoff and landing.
In addition to the panoramic view during the flight, Boeing's "Dream Pass" also provides viewers a virtual walk around the 787, with plenty of tidbits of information about all the innovations of the world's newest airliner.
But it's not all bells, whistles and good news out of Washington this week.
It's been a rough few days for the new Dreamliner, as the airplane continues to experience teething problems as new airlines take delivery of the composite passenger jet. A new United 787 en route from Houston to Newark was forced to divert to New Orleans after the pilot reported receiving messages in the cockpit indicating an electrical problem. The airplane landed safely, and Boeing is working with the airline to determine the origin of the malfunction. One of Boeing's 787 flight test aircraft experienced an electrical fire during a flight in Texas back in November 2010.
Today the Federal Aviation Administration issued a directive for airlines to inspect fuel-line connectors on the 787. Two Dreamliners currently in service were reported to have small fuel leaks and others – still in production – were found to have improperly installed connectors. Boeing had recommended the airlines check the connectors last month, according to the Seattle Times. With the notice from the FAA, it is mandatory for airlines to make the inspection. However, the loosened connectors did not play a role in the diverted United flight on Tuesday.
