Boeing 777: One of the most popular, safest jets

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Boeing 777 flown by Malaysia Airlines
that disappeared Saturday morning over the South China Sea is one of
the world’s most popular — and safest — jets.
The long-range jumbo
jet has helped connect cities at the far ends of the globe, with
flights as long as 16 hours. But more impressive is its safety record:
The first fatal crash in its 19-year history only came last July when an
Asiana Airlines jet landed short of the runway in San Francisco. Three
of the 307 people aboard died.
Airlines like the plane because it
is capable of flying extremely long distances thanks to two giant
engines. Each engine is so massive that a row of at least five coach
seats could fit inside it. By having just two engines, the plane burns
through less fuel than four-engine jets, like the Boeing 747, which it
has essentially replaced.
"It has provided a new standard in both
efficiency and safety," said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation consultant
with the Teal Group. "The 777 has enjoyed one of the safest records of
any jetliner built."
Besides last year’s Asiana crash, the only
other serious incident with the 777 came in January 2008 when a British
Airways jet landed about 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of the runway at
London’s Heathrow Airport.
Malaysia Airlines did have an incident
in August 2005 with a 777 flying from Perth, Australia, to Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia’s largest city. While flying 38,000 feet
(11,580 meters)
above the Indian Ocean, the plane’s software incorrectly measured speed
and acceleration, causing the plane to suddenly shoot up 3,000 feet (915
meters). The pilot disengaged the autopilot and descended and landed
safely back in Perth. A software update was quickly made on planes
around the world.
Malaysia Airlines has 15 Boeing 777-200ER jets
in its fleet of about 100 planes. The first was delivered on April 23,
1997. The most recent on Dec. 13, 2004, according to Boeing. The 200ER
is one of four versions of the 777.
The 777 is capable of flying
7,250 miles nonstop. Its two Rolls-Royce Trent 875 engines each have
74,600 pounds (33.8 tons) of thrust, letting the plane cruise at Mach
0.84, or nearly 640 mph. (1,000 kph).
A new model has a list price of $261.5 million, although airlines typically negotiate discounts.
The
777 was the first twin-engine plane to be immediately certified to fly
over the ocean as far as 180 minutes from any emergency landing airport.
Government safety regulators have determined that it could fly for
nearly three hours on a single engine in the case of an emergency.
Such government approval has enabled airlines to fly routes such as New York to Hong Kong nonstop on the
777.
Saturday’s
Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was scheduled to
take 5 1/2 hours — one of the shorter routes worldwide for the 777.
Malaysia Airlines has its 777s configured to seat 282 passengers with
business class and coach cabins.
In addition to its ability to fly
long distances and hold a large number of passengers, airlines like the
777 because they can fill its long belly with lots of profitable cargo.
The jet weighs 316,800
(143 tons) pounds empty but is able to carry
another 340,000
(155 tons) pounds of passengers, luggage, cargo and
fuel. Less than a third of the space in the belly is taken up by
luggage.
Boeing has delivered 1,030 of the planes since United
Airlines starting flying the first one in June 1995.There are
outstanding orders for another 370. Last year, Boeing announced plans to
build a new, larger version of the plane in addition to the four
current versions.
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Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.

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