Boeing B777x
Boeing’s innovation in the flight deck continues, with the introduction of touchscreens in the 777X forward displays; a first in the air transport industry.
Boeing 777x Images Interior
With touchscreens being used on smarts devices by people around the world every day, and pilots already bringing tablets into the flight deck, making the 777X even more intuitive and easy for pilots is a logical next step.
“We want to design a flight deck that pilots are going to be familiar with and that will provide the best interaction experience for them,” said Mark Nikolic, Boeing Flight Deck Human Factors Engineer.
Boeing's new 777X extends its folding wingtips to complete first flight. The aircraft's design is intriguing: Folding wingtips will let the 777X fit at existing airport gates while still giving. The title of largest 777 operator has changed hands during the aircraft's history. Singapore Airlines' order for up to 77 aircraft on November 15, 1995 constituted the largest-ever wide-body aircraft purchase at the time. The purchase comprised 34 firm orders and 43 options for the 777-200ER, all to be powered Trent 800 series engines, and was valued at US$12.7 billion.
Boeing 777x Interior
The 777X’s new technologies will allow pilots to work more efficiently while maintaining significant operational commonality with today’s 777.
Boeing has tested touchscreen technology on flight decks in simulators for the last five years and in 2014, used the ecoDemonstrator flying testbed to give pilots real-time flight experience with touch technology in the forward displays.
“We find that touchscreens perform as well as or better than current devices in the flight deck for interacting with the displays,” said Brian Gilbert, Boeing Flight Deck Integration Lead.
Boeing 777x Model
Boeing requirements for touch capability include bezel features designed to provide bracing and added stability in turbulence, and pilots can also interact with displays with rotary cursor controls.
Boeing’s 777X flight deck hardware is capable of supporting multiple touch points. This means two pilots can simultaneously interact with their half of the lower display.