The Great Boeing 787 (2017) - full transcript
- The 787 is the new generation
aircraft from Boeing.
It is lighter, faster,
and more maneuverable
than all its predecessors.
The engines are
revolutionary, powerful, quiet
and with very low fuel consumption.
The cockpit has been entirely rethought.
It draws upon the best
military technology.
The wing design is unique.
Onboard, WiFi works as it does at home,
technical progress based
on satellite relay.
Another innovation, extra-large windows.
An astonishing invention
allows the amount of light
entering to be controlled.
The majority of the
aircraft is made of carbon,
which is a first.
Boeing called in the
world's best suppliers.
In France in particular,
thousands of parts assembled,
wait for it, in three weeks.
And it's at a unique moment,
the arrival of the first 787
in an airline company that
we are going to explore
this exceptional aircraft.
Mechanics will explain what happens
during maintenance operations.
We will learn from pilots
what makes the 787 stand out.
The cabin crew will unveil
the security systems
of this new aircraft.
You're going to discover this new Boeing
as never seen before.
Our adventure begins in Seattle,
Boeing's number one city.
Here they think Boeing,
they breathe Boeing,
they dream Boeing.
The yearly turnover of
this aeronautic giant
is 100 billion dollars.
The Air France team has a meeting here
at the private Everett Airport.
On the tarmac, they
discover the Boeing 787,
also known as the Dreamliner.
This is Boeing's 500th 787,
but the first to enter the French fleet.
- It's a revolution.
It is a step change in the industry
like we've never seen before.
Many, many innovations,
many, many novel things
that we have done with this airplane
for the passenger, for the
airline, for the environment.
- This aircraft is
smaller than the Airbus 380
or the Boeing 777.
But like them, it is capable of reaching
extremely far-off destinations.
Consequently, the 787
allows airline companies
to open up routes which were
not previously financially
viable for long-haul.
For example, Singapore
or.
Thanks to this aircraft,
130 new routes like these
have been opened up.
It's aerodynamics and lightness
provide astonishing maneuverability.
The 787 is the fruit of more
than five year's research
and development in conjunction
with leading industries.
From the base model, Boeing has produced
several versions of the 787.
- Boeing is
marketing three versions,
the 787-8 -9 and -10.
The differentiating feature between them
is simply the length of the fuselage.
There is approximately a six
meter section added by model,
so the -9 is six meters longer than the -8
and the -10 is six meters
longer than the -9.
- The largest
one can accommodate
up to 330 passengers.
The six meter shorter one
can carry 290 passengers.
Finally, the smallest 787-8
can take 242 passengers.
Air France has chosen the
- 9 for its first model.
This Dreamliner is just 63 meters long
with a wingspan of 60 meters,
but it can fly up to
15,750 kilometers nonstop,
more or less the equivalent
of three Paris to New York flights.
But before the Air France
team can take flight
with this 787, a little
formality needs to be sorted out.
Payment in cash, a transaction
which we've exceptionally
been allowed to film.
The base price for each
aircraft is 230 million dollars.
Here in this room, Air France
authorizes the transfer.
The Boeing representative
is waiting for the moment
when the sum appears
on their account, live.
- Now we're waiting for Boeing
to come back into the
room and confirm reception
of the payment on their account.
So Suzanne should be back
in five to ten minutes.
- It's always a slightly
stressful moment.
- It looks
as though things are moving.
- That's it.
The money has arrived on Boeing's account
and like at a solicitors,
the buyer and the seller
finalize the sale.
Just for the record, this
contract is for the equivalent
of 1,500 Porsche Luxury Models.
As of this moment, the aircraft is legally
the responsibility of the French company.
Now the Boeing representative
can symbolically
hand over the keys to the Boeing 787.
- Well done.
The first aircraft delivered.
We can tell the on-board
teams to start preparations
for the flight.
Then we just have to
take her back to Paris.
- On the
tarmac, the inauguration
can take place.
The highest representatives
of the two companies
are side by side.
The sense of pride is palpable.
Two hours later, the French
crew is onboard the 787,
ready for takeoff.
- Okay, captain, are we clear
to disconnect external power?
- Bye, thanks a lot.
- We can go.
- The flight to
Paris will take nine hours.
This is known as a ferry flight.
It is strictly reserved for
Air France team members,
specially trained pilots,
directors, project leaders.
This is the first time that the company
accepts being filmed.
- Is everything going well?
I see you're having fun.
- It's our first flight
on a new airplane.
- It's beautiful.
It's expensive, but it's beautiful.
- Thanks for writing the check.
- The aircraft's engines
are astonishingly powerful.
If one of the two engines
were to break down in flight,
the other one would be
able to power the aircraft
all alone for more than five hours.
Even though Boeing is the constructor,
the French company
plays a determining role
in the choice of engines.
- Add-on companies have a choice
between two types of engine,
either the General Electric
or Rolls-Royce.
Air France and KLM have
chosen General Electric
for their aircraft purchases.
- The two
engines are the GEnx models
built by General Electric.
These engines are equipped
with 18 carbon-fiber blades.
Over a period of 20 years,
these GEnx should be able
to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 77 million tons.
These engines are more
powerful and yet lighter
than the old generation.
Aluminum has been replaced
by more resistant composite materials.
- These engines
consume much less fuel,
thanks to new technology,
and particularity by the use
of new composite materials.
- The work carried
out in the General Electric
factories is gigantic.
Each engine requires thousands
of parts to be assembled.
One of the characteristics of this engine,
far fewer hydraulic and pneumatic systems,
and far more electrical systems.
Composite materials make it lighter,
100 kilograms less per engine.
And each kilo less represents a saving
of hundreds of liters of fuel.
These engines undergo
a vast range of tests.
One very impressive example,
thousands of liters of water
injected to simulate a
storm or a saturated runway.
These GEnx engines are more
robust and easier to maintain.
In contrast to aluminum,
these composite materials
do not corrode.
Another advantage, this
engine gives off 15% less CO2
than it's predecessor.
- Added to this, of course,
is the environmental aspect
which is considerable
because this engine makes much less noise.
You can see at the back of
the engine these tooth-shaped
chevrons which reduce noise emission,
which is very important for
people living near airports.
- Another strong
point of the Dreamliner
is it's aerodynamics.
One of the striking things
when you see this aircraft
for the first time is its
extremely elegant design,
particularly regarding the wings.
- Obviously
this particularly fluid
wing shape, combined with
curves which we're not used to
seeing in an aircraft wing,
is not purely decorative.
It also represents a marked improvement
in aerodynamic performance.
- At Air
France, they use the word
to designate everything
pertaining to the wings of an
aircraft, wings which improve
the way of sliding through
the atmosphere and pilots
are first in line to
recognize this progress.
- One
particularity is the wing design
of this 787, which looks
a bit like a feather.
The wing tips make you think of an eagle.
This element represents
a great improvement
in terms of lift.
I'm tempted to say it's like a glider.
- One revolutionary
element of these wings
is the tips,
this upward curve at the extremity.
- What you'll see is the wing tips,
they start to bend right at takeoff.
And then you will see the
tip of the wing that bends
almost 10 feet above the
horizontal line of the wing.
And that is by design.
- These new
materials make the wings
amazingly supple.
The design engineers took inspiration
from the morphology of the eagle.
During the Seattle to Paris flight,
we meet up with one of the
new aircraft's key engineers.
For three years, she has
concentrated on every detail
of the cabin.
- I've worked with maintenance,
the supplier, with an
agronomist, to achieve result
where we offer one of the
best seats on the market
in terms of comfort.
The shell is fixed, as you can see.
When I recline, I don't
encroach on the space
of the person seated behind me.
- This is primarily
for premium economy class,
an intermediary class
between economy and business,
which has been rethought.
The seats can be reclined further
and are wider, 51 centimeters.
The space between the
rows has been increased.
- We've added
seven degrees of rake.
It's also much wider by
two and a half centimeters.
There's about five
centimeters more leg room
to allow you to stretch your legs out.
- Thousands of man hours
went into developing this cabin.
While the company personnel
relaxed for a while,
the pilot in command offers to take us
through the cockpit innovations.
In the cockpit, the major
newcomer is the HUD,
which is short for head-up display,
technology straight out
of fighter aircraft,
an interactive transparent screen.
- The HUD has
been around for a few years now.
It allows you without lowering your head
to have within your field
of vision a vast majority
of information necessary for flying.
In particular, your current
latitude, your trajectory,
your altitude, speed and direction.
It's something really
agreeable because it allows you
to be visually on the exterior,
but still with your flight details.
- The HUD
isn't the only innovation
in the cockpit.
All the screens and communication
and surveillance systems
have been rethought.
Electronics allow the
position of the aircraft
to be pinpointed in real time.
- In the past
you had huge paper maps.
The world was divided into
a certain number of sectors
and you cut all your map
and drew out the route
so you could follow it.
With electronics, it's much simpler.
So here, for example,
you have a cardiographic
representation of the
route being followed.
You can see that we're over Greenland.
You can swipe through.
All this is the route
that we'll be following
up to our arrival in Paris.
- The days of
mechanical on-board instruments,
altimeters, compasses, are now behind us.
Finance and ecology are
other major considerations.
Fuel economy.
Never has a long-haul aircraft
had lower fuel consumption.
- Here you can
see our average consumption,
the fuel flow.
This is our fuel gage.
You can see we're using 2.
Tons per engine per hour,
giving us a total of 4.4 tons per hour.
By comparison, a 777 consumes
about seven tons per hour.
- This represents
a considerable saving in fuel.
The lower consumption is partly explained
by the weight of the aircraft.
The Dreamliner is much lighter
than it's predecessors.
This is due to the extensive
use of composite materials,
principally carbon, which is notably used
throughout the aircraft's fuselage.
- This is the major innovation
in new generation aircraft,
the extensive use of materials
such as carbon.
With this aircraft, you
have more than 50% carbon,
20% aluminum and 15% titanium.
This combination has made it possible
to considerably reduce
the mass of the aircraft
and thereby reduce fuel consumption.
- For example, the jets engines.
The central cylinder is made of carbon.
This is also the case with
the wings and el-rons,
as well as the central
structure of the aircraft.
Being much lighter, these
materials make it possible
to reduce fuel consumption considerably.
No aircraft has ever been made up
of so much composite material.
- It's really quite something
in terms of economy.
Because of it's weight,
with more or less the same
passenger and baggage
load, it consumes 20% less
than the Airbus 340 with
a similar cabin capacity.
- Another major
advantage with carbon
is that wear and tear is
much less than with aluminum.
With aircrafts of earlier generations,
amongst the worst enemies
are humidity and corrosion.
- Composites also don't
corrode, so the fuselage
being the primary structure
made out of composites,
does not corrode, which
lowers the maintenance cost
of the airplane and extends
the life of the airplane.
A metal airplane typically has a lifecycle
of 25 to 30 years.
When you look at the basic structure,
it could easily run 50, 60, 70, 80 years.
- Much cheaper maintenance.
A total overhaul of a 747
requires 40 thousand man hours.
A Dreamliner inspection
needs only three thousand.
The Dreamliner is the most
electric aircraft ever built.
That's what makes it so light
and environment friendly.
Electrical systems are
replacing more and more
of the old mechanical
and hydraulic systems,
pumps, piping.
- Technologically,
the evolution is huge
because the 787 makes
great use of electricity
for all its systems.
For example, the starter is electric
and the brakes are electric.
In the past, brakes were hydraulic,
starters were pneumatic.
The extensive use of electricity
means there are a lot of generators.
Why so many on-board generators
and electrical systems?
Because it saves on weight.
- Another
innovation, each engine
incorporates two generators.
These generators supply
electrical distribution units,
shown her in yellow.
Electricity is thereby
used for the radars,
deicing the wings, pressurizing the cabin,
and innumerous other functions.
The systems being electric,
are making the airplane
again very efficient, and
they're making the airplane
very environmentally friendly.
- And for security reasons,
all the Dreamliner's electrical
systems have a backup.
Another challenge, passenger experience.
What could be more
important for you on-board
than WiFi access, being
able to watch films
in the best conditions.
Today the head of these new systems
is carrying out in-flight tests.
- Our Boeing 777's were fitted
with 9" screens.
Here would have an 11" for
all economy-class passengers.
Everything is touch screen
so passengers can browse,
just as they would with
a tablet or telephone.
All sorts of entertainment is available,
including a messaging application
for chatting with people
in other parts of the plane.
- But how can
you achieve an ultra-fast
Internet connection in mid-flight?
It has taken the latest technology.
The central element of the
aircraft's connectivity
is this hump in the shape of a rugby ball.
It takes several mechanics to install it,
engineers who climb on
the roof of the plane.
It's this antenna which
relays all the passenger
connections, television, email.
During flight, it transmits
hundreds of megaoctets,
of all types of data every minute.
- One new thing in our fleet
is the provision of WiFi onboard.
All the -9's will be
equipped with WiFi so you
can stay connected during
flight, send email.
You can see on top of
the plane the antenna
which provides satellite connection.
- Through this
antenna situated on top
of the fuselage, the 787
receives satellite signals.
Satellites which relay data,
send from antenna on the ground.
This apparatus provides
unbroken connection
for Dreamliner passengers.
- Today we offer
the possibility to clients
who say wish to remain
connected, the continue to work
onboard the aircraft, to send email,
to converse with friends
and family on the ground.
It's been long-awaited and
it's just the first step
because by 2020, the entire
Air France long-haul fleet
will have on-board WiFi.
- Internet access will cost you
between five and 20 Euros
because this technology
requires considerable investment
in the space industry,
the equivalent of 500
thousand Euros per aircraft.
- Five, four, three, two, one.
We have main engines...
- Rockets are
needed to place satellites
at 36 thousand kilometers from Earth.
It's no coincidence that Boeing
is strongly developing its space sector.
They're investing billions of dollars.
The ferry flight is coming to an end.
At daybreak, the passengers take advantage
of one of the new features which Boeing
is most proud of, the Dreamliner's
revolutionary windows.
- It's great.
The windows are very large,
giving you a wide view on the exterior.
- Big windows, bigger like
anything you've ever seen.
No other airplane has
windows that big that are low
so when you sit in your
seat, you can actually view
the horizon and it gives
you this sense of openness.
Particular care has been taken
over the size of these windows.
They've been enlarged by 30%.
But these windows are equipped
with a technological first.
A so-called electrochromic
system makes it possible
to vary the opacity of the plexiglass.
The result is that luminosity of the cabin
can be changed at the push of a button.
- Even the
windows include new technology.
On this aircraft, the
traditional window blinds
have been removed.
With the help of a small
button, an electrical system
varies the color of the
crystals and reduces window
transparency to provide a
nighttime effect in the cabin.
- How can
seemingly ordinary glass
provide variable luminosity?
These windows of the
future are manufactured
in this American factory.
First stage, coat the
windows with a special gel,
gel which is an electrical conductor.
These windows are then
inspected manually to make sure
the conducting gel has
been perfectly applied.
They are then cut into an oval shape.
They then pass through lasers to ensure
there are no defects.
Last stage, two panes are put together.
Electrochromic fluid is
inserted between them,
a liquid which darkens depending
on the electric impulses.
- In the past,
to create complete darkness
in the aircraft, the window
blinds had to be lowered,
which appears obsolete when
you look at the windows
of the 787, which have
chromatic variation.
The passengers have five
chromatic variations.
You can pass from day to night.
- It's a revolution.
The customer is finally
master of the light intensity
he wishes to have in the
cabin, which is a technological
revolution and also in
customer experience.
- Another
advantage of this new system,
cabin staff will no
longer need to bother you
to open the blinds during flight.
The crew can decide
upon the amount of light
entering the cabin.
- The flight
attendants can also control
all the cabin windows
from their command post.
The aircraft is divided into
three left and right zones,
making six independent zones.
They can choose these
zones or the whole cabin
and on this side choose the
level of window luminosity.
Five for totally opaque
and one for totally clear.
- After nine hours of flight,
the first 787 bought by the French company
will land at.
- Hello, everyone.
I hope you've all
managed to get some rest.
We are about to begin our descent.
I would just like to say what
a pleasure it's been for us
to share this homeward
flight with all of you.
Please fly with us again.
- On the
ground, on the concourses
facing the runway, dozens of
airport employees, journalists,
and aeronautic fans
discover the Dreamliner.
- This is the first time
that an Air France 787
has landed in Paris.
Yes, it's a very emotional
first for everyone,
for all the employees.
It's quite a rare event.
It's going to come in from this direction.
Touchdown will be on this runway.
This must be it.
That's it.
- It is 9:10 local time.
The temperature is four degrees.
Thank you for this beautiful journey
and this great experience.
- One of the pilots in command
who has trained for
months to be able to pilot
the new aircraft has
the privilege of raising
the French Colors.
- Here we go.
- In keeping with tradition,
when a new aircraft enters the fleet,
it is baptized by the fire department.
- The weather's not great,
but this is magnificent, all the same.
- It took
hundreds, if not thousands,
of hours of meetings
over the years with KLM
and the different suppliers
to prepare the arrival
of this aircraft and the fleet.
Naturally, all our
procedures have to be adapted
to this technology.
- No sooner has
this very flight landed
that a new challenge
awaits the Dreamliner.
It must be ready to take off
for Cairo in 15 days time,
not one day longer.
Each day's immobility costs
tens of thousands of Euros.
Over these two weeks, we
will show you how the new
Dreamliner is taken in-hand at the immense
airport.
We will follow the
mechanics and the pilots,
but also the aeronautic
specialists, the VIPs,
as they gradually come to
grips with this new Boeing.
The next day, the 787 is
taken to the airport's
maintenance hangers.
For the few mechanics
who've been privileged
with initiation into this new aircraft,
it's a day to remember.
- They're all
gonna see the plane, I told you.
- is a mechanic.
He's been following special
training for several months
to learn the maintenance
techniques for Dreamliner.
- The time comes when you say,
I need something tangible.
I need to get my hands on it,
to see what it actually looks like.
Because pictures are
fine, it's good to see it
on the screen, but now
let's see it in the flesh.
Let's listen to it, touch it.
- In two weeks, this 787 is down
for its first commercial flight.
But what if there's a problem?
Engine failure.
The mechanics have only a few days
in which to perfectly
master the new machine.
But also to adapt this
Boeing to Air France
specific standards,
particularly concerning safety.
- Since the plane's arrival,
we've been adapting it to our standards,
what is know as PDM,
post-delivery modification.
It needs to be brought
in line with the rest
of the Air France fleet.
This morning,
has to replace the oxygen
cylinders supplied by Boeing
with the Air France ones.
With this key safety element,
nothing can be left to chance.
- So we check the conformity,
make sure it's the right one.
Okay, I can fit it.
There.
It's for the O2 masks.
They're connected directly to the bottle,
so the passengers can breathe.
We take it, we connect it to
the bottle and there you are.
The person can breathe through
it as soon as it's connected
and the bottle is turned on.
Right now they're turned off, of course.
- In accordance with the rules,
every operation is written
down and verified twice.
In aeronautics, this is
known as reiteration.
- It's a beautiful
bird and we're fond of it.
We're proud to work on it.
- Even with a new
aircraft, anything can happen.
This type of machine is a
high-precision jigsaw puzzle,
which is incredibly complex mechanically.
In the later stages of
development, the first 787s
came up again numerous complications.
When they first came into service in 2011,
Boeing had to recall and ground
several of these aircrafts.
This inactivity cost the company dearly.
Engineers had to solve a number
of technical difficulties.
Issues with the electric brakes,
with the new landing gear,
with the engine starters,
and major difficulties with the aircraft's
batteries which overheated.
Between 2011 and 2013, teams
from all around the world
collaborated to solve
these problems in a year.
To show you another aspect of preparation,
we received special
authorization to enter this part
of.
How do crews prepare
for emergency situations
on the new aircraft?
How can accidents be anticipated?
This is where the crews train.
A cabin, identical to that of a Boeing,
is mounted on huge hydraulic pumps.
This turbulence simulator
emulates possible accidents.
Storms, violent air pockets,
water landing in rough seas.
All these scenarios are
experienced by the pilots.
Today, it's Captain Serge Vito
who has come to supervise crew
training for the new Boeing.
- Today we're
lucky enough to have to first
787 pilots, whose currently being trained.
This is initial ground training
before going to London.
They leave for London
next week to complete
their training on a simulator.
- Although not
frequent, fire is the number one
enemy aborad an aircraft.
So the first exercise
is to enter this cabin
where a fire is being simulated.
The second stage, after
quickly putting on a mask
and gloves, is to bring
the fire under control
in a few seconds.
- Look to make sure.
Okay, we're good.
Make sure there's no re-ignition.
- There's
something relatively recent.
There is now more and more
electrical material aboard,
and particularly lithium batteries.
And spontaneous combustion has been seen,
particularity in cases
where there's impact.
Extinguishing a lithium
battery fire is very specific,
with a special procedure
which includes cooling down
the object once the fire it out.
- The next step is crucial.
- After the
pilots, it's the turn
of the cabin crew to go
through fire training.
- This is control, over.
What type of fire are you dealing with?
A device on fire?
- Yes,
an electronic device on fire.
Understood, make your way back.
- On the 787,
on-board WiFi access
favors the use of laptops and smartphones.
And, as we have seen, with certain models,
the risks are very real.
Air hostesses, stewards, no
one flies without succeeding
in these exercises and
obtaining a certificate.
- Training is what our knowledge
is based on.
The more you go through the
procedures in the theoretical
and also a practical way,
the more you integrate
the appropriate action
to take in the event
of a problem aboard.
- In the meantime,
the Dreamliner pilots
move on to the next stage.
The trainer goes through
the use of emergency kits,
in particular this new distress beacons.
- You pull on the button,
now it's on auto-test mode,
and take it for positioning.
- It's
precisely in this new safety
equipment that the specificity
of the 787 can be seen.
And this is an opportunity
for the pilots and cabin crew
to see it for the first time.
- So, one step forward.
That's it, well forward.
One foot well forward.
Okay.
- 5:00 a.m., Airport.
One week from the first
commercial flight to Egypt.
Captain Serge Vito and his team
carry out the ritual tour of the aircraft.
It's the rule before each
takeoff, one last verification.
- There are two forward ones,
one electronic and the other...
No, no, it's this one.
- Serge Vito
is going to supervise
the first flight in real conditions
for the new 787 pilots.
During the course of the
day, five teams of pilots
will relay each other at
the controls of the Boeing.
For this, the aircraft
will carry out successive
shuttle flights between the airports
of Chateauroux and Vatry.
Aboard, we naturally find
once again, the 787 trained mechanic.
- As a rule, you activate it.
You see here, this one
here is for maintenance
and this is normal one.
This one's for us.
- Serge Vito
gives the pilots in training
the final explanation of the flight plan.
For the last few months, the
training has been theoretical.
Today for the first time,
they will really be at the
controls of a Dreamliner.
How will they react?
Will they have the right reflexes?
Is it easy to go from
one aircraft to another?
- Each machine is different.
You need to be trained for each of them.
Each training session lasts two months.
You can't simply go from one to another.
You need to be qualified.
Switching from one aircraft
to another would be just like
switching between two
totally different cars.
- But a car
which travels at an average
of 913 kilometers an hour,
and who's very particular aerodynamics
produce new sensations
for the pilot in command.
- It's very
agreeable to pilot, very delicate,
more so than the 777
which was a bigger machine
and a slightly older style.
Here the dosage is even more delicate,
which makes it very agreeable to pilot.
- An hour from
the pilots do a trial landing
in.
It's barely daylight, but
journalists and enthusiasts
from all around the
region are already there.
On the ground, Serge Vito
changes the crews over.
Without even opening it's doors,
the aircraft takes off again.
In the cockpit, the new
crew tests the power
and reactions of the new Boeing.
The pilots have of course
come to know this cockpit.
They spent a week in
London for flight practice
in a simulator.
The crews practice the
most delicate maneuvers.
Flight controls, aircraft reaction,
everything just as in real life.
The pilot on the right is
accompanied on the left
by,
a pilot in command instructor.
- The simulator
is still very theoretical,
even though it's highly realistic.
By being onboard the real aircraft,
surrounded by the real
atmosphere of it all,
nothing beats the real world.
- At Châteauroux
Airport, pilots undergo
specific training for the
delicate landing phase,
a maneuver repetitively gone through
on the simulator in London.
On the simulator, although
the flight is virtual,
maximum concentration is
needed for this landing phase.
- Approach at
Amsterdam, so we'll descend
at 2,000 feet, then we have a
glide type of three degrees.
- This is the critical phase.
- 100, 50,
40, 30, 20, 10.
- Shall we stay on the runway?
- Useful exercises.
Here at Châteauroux Airport,
the landing is delicately carried out.
It's the big day here at
After two weeks preparation,
everything seems in order
for the new Boeing.
The 787 takes off for Cairo in 42 minutes.
This will be its first commercial flight.
- Down a bit, down.
- These ramp
agents have been briefed
on the fragility of the carbon structure.
They take every precaution.
- You need
to move the safety guard
or it'll catch over there.
Okay, go on.
It absolutely mustn't touch.
If any machine comes in
contact with the aircraft,
it will cause internal damage.
You won't see it with the naked eye.
The section springs back into place.
Even when we do the tour of the aircraft,
we won't see anything,
but there will be damage
on the interior.
You need to leave a gap
of five to 10 centimeters,
definitely no closer.
So even if the aircraft
moves with the wind,
no other machine much
come in contact with it.
What?
Send it in.
On the 787, every container,
every pallet, must be fastened.
- Naturally, nothing
goes exactly as intended.
- Take it out again, then.
It's catching on the rail.
Go on, dammit.
Okay, we're good.
- It's 20
minutes before takeoff.
The aircraft is taking on fuel.
The crew arrives, headed
by Serge Vito, of course.
- The last piece
of the puzzle goes in place
today because it will be on
a true commercial flight.
So we're really at the pinnacle,
the culmination of the whole project.
So, once again, I'm very
happy to be here today.
- For the pilot in command,
it's time for the final verification.
- It's the
last technical verification
from our side of things before takeoff,
so we make sure there
are no apparent impacts
anywhere on the plane.
- The aircraft is ready.
Two of the ground crew will
help the aircraft leave
it's parked position.
They communicate with the pilot in command
through a headset directly
linked to the cockpit.
- Up.
- The aircraft is in position.
The pushback tractor disengages.
The ground crew can unplug.
He waves a red security
ribbon at the pilot,
the signal that everything is in order.
The 787 begins taxiing.
Following the arrival of this new aircraft
at the heart of the company has been
an extraordinary adventure,
a unique journey from Seattle to Paris.
- It's going to
come in from this direction.
Touchdown will be on this runway.
This must be it.
- A unique moment
which has left it's mark.
Engineers, mechanics, heads
of projects, cabin crew,
and, of course, pilots.
- Even after
a career of nearly 30 years,
taking delivery of a
new model of an aircraft
is still very moving.
It's an extraordinary adventure
and often only happens
once in a pilot's lifetime,
so you savor every moment.
- The Boeing
787 lives up to its name,
the Dreamliner.
It's what dreams are made of.
Innovative engines,
unique aerodynamics,
smart cockpit,
a carbon-fiber fuselage,
both light and resistant,
updated windows incorporating
technology of the future.
The 787 is a cocktail of innovation
and everyone's snatching them up.
This model has been customized
by a Japanese company
in the colors of Star Wars.
Originality, which makes the new Boeing
shine across the world.
In total, the 787 has already
flown 145 million passengers.
67 companies have order 1,207
models of the Dreamliner.
So the 787 is a symbol of modernity.
It reminds us of the progress
made in just a few decades.
This aircraft has become an icon
and its career has only just begun.
aircraft from Boeing.
It is lighter, faster,
and more maneuverable
than all its predecessors.
The engines are
revolutionary, powerful, quiet
and with very low fuel consumption.
The cockpit has been entirely rethought.
It draws upon the best
military technology.
The wing design is unique.
Onboard, WiFi works as it does at home,
technical progress based
on satellite relay.
Another innovation, extra-large windows.
An astonishing invention
allows the amount of light
entering to be controlled.
The majority of the
aircraft is made of carbon,
which is a first.
Boeing called in the
world's best suppliers.
In France in particular,
thousands of parts assembled,
wait for it, in three weeks.
And it's at a unique moment,
the arrival of the first 787
in an airline company that
we are going to explore
this exceptional aircraft.
Mechanics will explain what happens
during maintenance operations.
We will learn from pilots
what makes the 787 stand out.
The cabin crew will unveil
the security systems
of this new aircraft.
You're going to discover this new Boeing
as never seen before.
Our adventure begins in Seattle,
Boeing's number one city.
Here they think Boeing,
they breathe Boeing,
they dream Boeing.
The yearly turnover of
this aeronautic giant
is 100 billion dollars.
The Air France team has a meeting here
at the private Everett Airport.
On the tarmac, they
discover the Boeing 787,
also known as the Dreamliner.
This is Boeing's 500th 787,
but the first to enter the French fleet.
- It's a revolution.
It is a step change in the industry
like we've never seen before.
Many, many innovations,
many, many novel things
that we have done with this airplane
for the passenger, for the
airline, for the environment.
- This aircraft is
smaller than the Airbus 380
or the Boeing 777.
But like them, it is capable of reaching
extremely far-off destinations.
Consequently, the 787
allows airline companies
to open up routes which were
not previously financially
viable for long-haul.
For example, Singapore
or.
Thanks to this aircraft,
130 new routes like these
have been opened up.
It's aerodynamics and lightness
provide astonishing maneuverability.
The 787 is the fruit of more
than five year's research
and development in conjunction
with leading industries.
From the base model, Boeing has produced
several versions of the 787.
- Boeing is
marketing three versions,
the 787-8 -9 and -10.
The differentiating feature between them
is simply the length of the fuselage.
There is approximately a six
meter section added by model,
so the -9 is six meters longer than the -8
and the -10 is six meters
longer than the -9.
- The largest
one can accommodate
up to 330 passengers.
The six meter shorter one
can carry 290 passengers.
Finally, the smallest 787-8
can take 242 passengers.
Air France has chosen the
- 9 for its first model.
This Dreamliner is just 63 meters long
with a wingspan of 60 meters,
but it can fly up to
15,750 kilometers nonstop,
more or less the equivalent
of three Paris to New York flights.
But before the Air France
team can take flight
with this 787, a little
formality needs to be sorted out.
Payment in cash, a transaction
which we've exceptionally
been allowed to film.
The base price for each
aircraft is 230 million dollars.
Here in this room, Air France
authorizes the transfer.
The Boeing representative
is waiting for the moment
when the sum appears
on their account, live.
- Now we're waiting for Boeing
to come back into the
room and confirm reception
of the payment on their account.
So Suzanne should be back
in five to ten minutes.
- It's always a slightly
stressful moment.
- It looks
as though things are moving.
- That's it.
The money has arrived on Boeing's account
and like at a solicitors,
the buyer and the seller
finalize the sale.
Just for the record, this
contract is for the equivalent
of 1,500 Porsche Luxury Models.
As of this moment, the aircraft is legally
the responsibility of the French company.
Now the Boeing representative
can symbolically
hand over the keys to the Boeing 787.
- Well done.
The first aircraft delivered.
We can tell the on-board
teams to start preparations
for the flight.
Then we just have to
take her back to Paris.
- On the
tarmac, the inauguration
can take place.
The highest representatives
of the two companies
are side by side.
The sense of pride is palpable.
Two hours later, the French
crew is onboard the 787,
ready for takeoff.
- Okay, captain, are we clear
to disconnect external power?
- Bye, thanks a lot.
- We can go.
- The flight to
Paris will take nine hours.
This is known as a ferry flight.
It is strictly reserved for
Air France team members,
specially trained pilots,
directors, project leaders.
This is the first time that the company
accepts being filmed.
- Is everything going well?
I see you're having fun.
- It's our first flight
on a new airplane.
- It's beautiful.
It's expensive, but it's beautiful.
- Thanks for writing the check.
- The aircraft's engines
are astonishingly powerful.
If one of the two engines
were to break down in flight,
the other one would be
able to power the aircraft
all alone for more than five hours.
Even though Boeing is the constructor,
the French company
plays a determining role
in the choice of engines.
- Add-on companies have a choice
between two types of engine,
either the General Electric
or Rolls-Royce.
Air France and KLM have
chosen General Electric
for their aircraft purchases.
- The two
engines are the GEnx models
built by General Electric.
These engines are equipped
with 18 carbon-fiber blades.
Over a period of 20 years,
these GEnx should be able
to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 77 million tons.
These engines are more
powerful and yet lighter
than the old generation.
Aluminum has been replaced
by more resistant composite materials.
- These engines
consume much less fuel,
thanks to new technology,
and particularity by the use
of new composite materials.
- The work carried
out in the General Electric
factories is gigantic.
Each engine requires thousands
of parts to be assembled.
One of the characteristics of this engine,
far fewer hydraulic and pneumatic systems,
and far more electrical systems.
Composite materials make it lighter,
100 kilograms less per engine.
And each kilo less represents a saving
of hundreds of liters of fuel.
These engines undergo
a vast range of tests.
One very impressive example,
thousands of liters of water
injected to simulate a
storm or a saturated runway.
These GEnx engines are more
robust and easier to maintain.
In contrast to aluminum,
these composite materials
do not corrode.
Another advantage, this
engine gives off 15% less CO2
than it's predecessor.
- Added to this, of course,
is the environmental aspect
which is considerable
because this engine makes much less noise.
You can see at the back of
the engine these tooth-shaped
chevrons which reduce noise emission,
which is very important for
people living near airports.
- Another strong
point of the Dreamliner
is it's aerodynamics.
One of the striking things
when you see this aircraft
for the first time is its
extremely elegant design,
particularly regarding the wings.
- Obviously
this particularly fluid
wing shape, combined with
curves which we're not used to
seeing in an aircraft wing,
is not purely decorative.
It also represents a marked improvement
in aerodynamic performance.
- At Air
France, they use the word
to designate everything
pertaining to the wings of an
aircraft, wings which improve
the way of sliding through
the atmosphere and pilots
are first in line to
recognize this progress.
- One
particularity is the wing design
of this 787, which looks
a bit like a feather.
The wing tips make you think of an eagle.
This element represents
a great improvement
in terms of lift.
I'm tempted to say it's like a glider.
- One revolutionary
element of these wings
is the tips,
this upward curve at the extremity.
- What you'll see is the wing tips,
they start to bend right at takeoff.
And then you will see the
tip of the wing that bends
almost 10 feet above the
horizontal line of the wing.
And that is by design.
- These new
materials make the wings
amazingly supple.
The design engineers took inspiration
from the morphology of the eagle.
During the Seattle to Paris flight,
we meet up with one of the
new aircraft's key engineers.
For three years, she has
concentrated on every detail
of the cabin.
- I've worked with maintenance,
the supplier, with an
agronomist, to achieve result
where we offer one of the
best seats on the market
in terms of comfort.
The shell is fixed, as you can see.
When I recline, I don't
encroach on the space
of the person seated behind me.
- This is primarily
for premium economy class,
an intermediary class
between economy and business,
which has been rethought.
The seats can be reclined further
and are wider, 51 centimeters.
The space between the
rows has been increased.
- We've added
seven degrees of rake.
It's also much wider by
two and a half centimeters.
There's about five
centimeters more leg room
to allow you to stretch your legs out.
- Thousands of man hours
went into developing this cabin.
While the company personnel
relaxed for a while,
the pilot in command offers to take us
through the cockpit innovations.
In the cockpit, the major
newcomer is the HUD,
which is short for head-up display,
technology straight out
of fighter aircraft,
an interactive transparent screen.
- The HUD has
been around for a few years now.
It allows you without lowering your head
to have within your field
of vision a vast majority
of information necessary for flying.
In particular, your current
latitude, your trajectory,
your altitude, speed and direction.
It's something really
agreeable because it allows you
to be visually on the exterior,
but still with your flight details.
- The HUD
isn't the only innovation
in the cockpit.
All the screens and communication
and surveillance systems
have been rethought.
Electronics allow the
position of the aircraft
to be pinpointed in real time.
- In the past
you had huge paper maps.
The world was divided into
a certain number of sectors
and you cut all your map
and drew out the route
so you could follow it.
With electronics, it's much simpler.
So here, for example,
you have a cardiographic
representation of the
route being followed.
You can see that we're over Greenland.
You can swipe through.
All this is the route
that we'll be following
up to our arrival in Paris.
- The days of
mechanical on-board instruments,
altimeters, compasses, are now behind us.
Finance and ecology are
other major considerations.
Fuel economy.
Never has a long-haul aircraft
had lower fuel consumption.
- Here you can
see our average consumption,
the fuel flow.
This is our fuel gage.
You can see we're using 2.
Tons per engine per hour,
giving us a total of 4.4 tons per hour.
By comparison, a 777 consumes
about seven tons per hour.
- This represents
a considerable saving in fuel.
The lower consumption is partly explained
by the weight of the aircraft.
The Dreamliner is much lighter
than it's predecessors.
This is due to the extensive
use of composite materials,
principally carbon, which is notably used
throughout the aircraft's fuselage.
- This is the major innovation
in new generation aircraft,
the extensive use of materials
such as carbon.
With this aircraft, you
have more than 50% carbon,
20% aluminum and 15% titanium.
This combination has made it possible
to considerably reduce
the mass of the aircraft
and thereby reduce fuel consumption.
- For example, the jets engines.
The central cylinder is made of carbon.
This is also the case with
the wings and el-rons,
as well as the central
structure of the aircraft.
Being much lighter, these
materials make it possible
to reduce fuel consumption considerably.
No aircraft has ever been made up
of so much composite material.
- It's really quite something
in terms of economy.
Because of it's weight,
with more or less the same
passenger and baggage
load, it consumes 20% less
than the Airbus 340 with
a similar cabin capacity.
- Another major
advantage with carbon
is that wear and tear is
much less than with aluminum.
With aircrafts of earlier generations,
amongst the worst enemies
are humidity and corrosion.
- Composites also don't
corrode, so the fuselage
being the primary structure
made out of composites,
does not corrode, which
lowers the maintenance cost
of the airplane and extends
the life of the airplane.
A metal airplane typically has a lifecycle
of 25 to 30 years.
When you look at the basic structure,
it could easily run 50, 60, 70, 80 years.
- Much cheaper maintenance.
A total overhaul of a 747
requires 40 thousand man hours.
A Dreamliner inspection
needs only three thousand.
The Dreamliner is the most
electric aircraft ever built.
That's what makes it so light
and environment friendly.
Electrical systems are
replacing more and more
of the old mechanical
and hydraulic systems,
pumps, piping.
- Technologically,
the evolution is huge
because the 787 makes
great use of electricity
for all its systems.
For example, the starter is electric
and the brakes are electric.
In the past, brakes were hydraulic,
starters were pneumatic.
The extensive use of electricity
means there are a lot of generators.
Why so many on-board generators
and electrical systems?
Because it saves on weight.
- Another
innovation, each engine
incorporates two generators.
These generators supply
electrical distribution units,
shown her in yellow.
Electricity is thereby
used for the radars,
deicing the wings, pressurizing the cabin,
and innumerous other functions.
The systems being electric,
are making the airplane
again very efficient, and
they're making the airplane
very environmentally friendly.
- And for security reasons,
all the Dreamliner's electrical
systems have a backup.
Another challenge, passenger experience.
What could be more
important for you on-board
than WiFi access, being
able to watch films
in the best conditions.
Today the head of these new systems
is carrying out in-flight tests.
- Our Boeing 777's were fitted
with 9" screens.
Here would have an 11" for
all economy-class passengers.
Everything is touch screen
so passengers can browse,
just as they would with
a tablet or telephone.
All sorts of entertainment is available,
including a messaging application
for chatting with people
in other parts of the plane.
- But how can
you achieve an ultra-fast
Internet connection in mid-flight?
It has taken the latest technology.
The central element of the
aircraft's connectivity
is this hump in the shape of a rugby ball.
It takes several mechanics to install it,
engineers who climb on
the roof of the plane.
It's this antenna which
relays all the passenger
connections, television, email.
During flight, it transmits
hundreds of megaoctets,
of all types of data every minute.
- One new thing in our fleet
is the provision of WiFi onboard.
All the -9's will be
equipped with WiFi so you
can stay connected during
flight, send email.
You can see on top of
the plane the antenna
which provides satellite connection.
- Through this
antenna situated on top
of the fuselage, the 787
receives satellite signals.
Satellites which relay data,
send from antenna on the ground.
This apparatus provides
unbroken connection
for Dreamliner passengers.
- Today we offer
the possibility to clients
who say wish to remain
connected, the continue to work
onboard the aircraft, to send email,
to converse with friends
and family on the ground.
It's been long-awaited and
it's just the first step
because by 2020, the entire
Air France long-haul fleet
will have on-board WiFi.
- Internet access will cost you
between five and 20 Euros
because this technology
requires considerable investment
in the space industry,
the equivalent of 500
thousand Euros per aircraft.
- Five, four, three, two, one.
We have main engines...
- Rockets are
needed to place satellites
at 36 thousand kilometers from Earth.
It's no coincidence that Boeing
is strongly developing its space sector.
They're investing billions of dollars.
The ferry flight is coming to an end.
At daybreak, the passengers take advantage
of one of the new features which Boeing
is most proud of, the Dreamliner's
revolutionary windows.
- It's great.
The windows are very large,
giving you a wide view on the exterior.
- Big windows, bigger like
anything you've ever seen.
No other airplane has
windows that big that are low
so when you sit in your
seat, you can actually view
the horizon and it gives
you this sense of openness.
Particular care has been taken
over the size of these windows.
They've been enlarged by 30%.
But these windows are equipped
with a technological first.
A so-called electrochromic
system makes it possible
to vary the opacity of the plexiglass.
The result is that luminosity of the cabin
can be changed at the push of a button.
- Even the
windows include new technology.
On this aircraft, the
traditional window blinds
have been removed.
With the help of a small
button, an electrical system
varies the color of the
crystals and reduces window
transparency to provide a
nighttime effect in the cabin.
- How can
seemingly ordinary glass
provide variable luminosity?
These windows of the
future are manufactured
in this American factory.
First stage, coat the
windows with a special gel,
gel which is an electrical conductor.
These windows are then
inspected manually to make sure
the conducting gel has
been perfectly applied.
They are then cut into an oval shape.
They then pass through lasers to ensure
there are no defects.
Last stage, two panes are put together.
Electrochromic fluid is
inserted between them,
a liquid which darkens depending
on the electric impulses.
- In the past,
to create complete darkness
in the aircraft, the window
blinds had to be lowered,
which appears obsolete when
you look at the windows
of the 787, which have
chromatic variation.
The passengers have five
chromatic variations.
You can pass from day to night.
- It's a revolution.
The customer is finally
master of the light intensity
he wishes to have in the
cabin, which is a technological
revolution and also in
customer experience.
- Another
advantage of this new system,
cabin staff will no
longer need to bother you
to open the blinds during flight.
The crew can decide
upon the amount of light
entering the cabin.
- The flight
attendants can also control
all the cabin windows
from their command post.
The aircraft is divided into
three left and right zones,
making six independent zones.
They can choose these
zones or the whole cabin
and on this side choose the
level of window luminosity.
Five for totally opaque
and one for totally clear.
- After nine hours of flight,
the first 787 bought by the French company
will land at.
- Hello, everyone.
I hope you've all
managed to get some rest.
We are about to begin our descent.
I would just like to say what
a pleasure it's been for us
to share this homeward
flight with all of you.
Please fly with us again.
- On the
ground, on the concourses
facing the runway, dozens of
airport employees, journalists,
and aeronautic fans
discover the Dreamliner.
- This is the first time
that an Air France 787
has landed in Paris.
Yes, it's a very emotional
first for everyone,
for all the employees.
It's quite a rare event.
It's going to come in from this direction.
Touchdown will be on this runway.
This must be it.
That's it.
- It is 9:10 local time.
The temperature is four degrees.
Thank you for this beautiful journey
and this great experience.
- One of the pilots in command
who has trained for
months to be able to pilot
the new aircraft has
the privilege of raising
the French Colors.
- Here we go.
- In keeping with tradition,
when a new aircraft enters the fleet,
it is baptized by the fire department.
- The weather's not great,
but this is magnificent, all the same.
- It took
hundreds, if not thousands,
of hours of meetings
over the years with KLM
and the different suppliers
to prepare the arrival
of this aircraft and the fleet.
Naturally, all our
procedures have to be adapted
to this technology.
- No sooner has
this very flight landed
that a new challenge
awaits the Dreamliner.
It must be ready to take off
for Cairo in 15 days time,
not one day longer.
Each day's immobility costs
tens of thousands of Euros.
Over these two weeks, we
will show you how the new
Dreamliner is taken in-hand at the immense
airport.
We will follow the
mechanics and the pilots,
but also the aeronautic
specialists, the VIPs,
as they gradually come to
grips with this new Boeing.
The next day, the 787 is
taken to the airport's
maintenance hangers.
For the few mechanics
who've been privileged
with initiation into this new aircraft,
it's a day to remember.
- They're all
gonna see the plane, I told you.
- is a mechanic.
He's been following special
training for several months
to learn the maintenance
techniques for Dreamliner.
- The time comes when you say,
I need something tangible.
I need to get my hands on it,
to see what it actually looks like.
Because pictures are
fine, it's good to see it
on the screen, but now
let's see it in the flesh.
Let's listen to it, touch it.
- In two weeks, this 787 is down
for its first commercial flight.
But what if there's a problem?
Engine failure.
The mechanics have only a few days
in which to perfectly
master the new machine.
But also to adapt this
Boeing to Air France
specific standards,
particularly concerning safety.
- Since the plane's arrival,
we've been adapting it to our standards,
what is know as PDM,
post-delivery modification.
It needs to be brought
in line with the rest
of the Air France fleet.
This morning,
has to replace the oxygen
cylinders supplied by Boeing
with the Air France ones.
With this key safety element,
nothing can be left to chance.
- So we check the conformity,
make sure it's the right one.
Okay, I can fit it.
There.
It's for the O2 masks.
They're connected directly to the bottle,
so the passengers can breathe.
We take it, we connect it to
the bottle and there you are.
The person can breathe through
it as soon as it's connected
and the bottle is turned on.
Right now they're turned off, of course.
- In accordance with the rules,
every operation is written
down and verified twice.
In aeronautics, this is
known as reiteration.
- It's a beautiful
bird and we're fond of it.
We're proud to work on it.
- Even with a new
aircraft, anything can happen.
This type of machine is a
high-precision jigsaw puzzle,
which is incredibly complex mechanically.
In the later stages of
development, the first 787s
came up again numerous complications.
When they first came into service in 2011,
Boeing had to recall and ground
several of these aircrafts.
This inactivity cost the company dearly.
Engineers had to solve a number
of technical difficulties.
Issues with the electric brakes,
with the new landing gear,
with the engine starters,
and major difficulties with the aircraft's
batteries which overheated.
Between 2011 and 2013, teams
from all around the world
collaborated to solve
these problems in a year.
To show you another aspect of preparation,
we received special
authorization to enter this part
of.
How do crews prepare
for emergency situations
on the new aircraft?
How can accidents be anticipated?
This is where the crews train.
A cabin, identical to that of a Boeing,
is mounted on huge hydraulic pumps.
This turbulence simulator
emulates possible accidents.
Storms, violent air pockets,
water landing in rough seas.
All these scenarios are
experienced by the pilots.
Today, it's Captain Serge Vito
who has come to supervise crew
training for the new Boeing.
- Today we're
lucky enough to have to first
787 pilots, whose currently being trained.
This is initial ground training
before going to London.
They leave for London
next week to complete
their training on a simulator.
- Although not
frequent, fire is the number one
enemy aborad an aircraft.
So the first exercise
is to enter this cabin
where a fire is being simulated.
The second stage, after
quickly putting on a mask
and gloves, is to bring
the fire under control
in a few seconds.
- Look to make sure.
Okay, we're good.
Make sure there's no re-ignition.
- There's
something relatively recent.
There is now more and more
electrical material aboard,
and particularly lithium batteries.
And spontaneous combustion has been seen,
particularity in cases
where there's impact.
Extinguishing a lithium
battery fire is very specific,
with a special procedure
which includes cooling down
the object once the fire it out.
- The next step is crucial.
- After the
pilots, it's the turn
of the cabin crew to go
through fire training.
- This is control, over.
What type of fire are you dealing with?
A device on fire?
- Yes,
an electronic device on fire.
Understood, make your way back.
- On the 787,
on-board WiFi access
favors the use of laptops and smartphones.
And, as we have seen, with certain models,
the risks are very real.
Air hostesses, stewards, no
one flies without succeeding
in these exercises and
obtaining a certificate.
- Training is what our knowledge
is based on.
The more you go through the
procedures in the theoretical
and also a practical way,
the more you integrate
the appropriate action
to take in the event
of a problem aboard.
- In the meantime,
the Dreamliner pilots
move on to the next stage.
The trainer goes through
the use of emergency kits,
in particular this new distress beacons.
- You pull on the button,
now it's on auto-test mode,
and take it for positioning.
- It's
precisely in this new safety
equipment that the specificity
of the 787 can be seen.
And this is an opportunity
for the pilots and cabin crew
to see it for the first time.
- So, one step forward.
That's it, well forward.
One foot well forward.
Okay.
- 5:00 a.m., Airport.
One week from the first
commercial flight to Egypt.
Captain Serge Vito and his team
carry out the ritual tour of the aircraft.
It's the rule before each
takeoff, one last verification.
- There are two forward ones,
one electronic and the other...
No, no, it's this one.
- Serge Vito
is going to supervise
the first flight in real conditions
for the new 787 pilots.
During the course of the
day, five teams of pilots
will relay each other at
the controls of the Boeing.
For this, the aircraft
will carry out successive
shuttle flights between the airports
of Chateauroux and Vatry.
Aboard, we naturally find
once again, the 787 trained mechanic.
- As a rule, you activate it.
You see here, this one
here is for maintenance
and this is normal one.
This one's for us.
- Serge Vito
gives the pilots in training
the final explanation of the flight plan.
For the last few months, the
training has been theoretical.
Today for the first time,
they will really be at the
controls of a Dreamliner.
How will they react?
Will they have the right reflexes?
Is it easy to go from
one aircraft to another?
- Each machine is different.
You need to be trained for each of them.
Each training session lasts two months.
You can't simply go from one to another.
You need to be qualified.
Switching from one aircraft
to another would be just like
switching between two
totally different cars.
- But a car
which travels at an average
of 913 kilometers an hour,
and who's very particular aerodynamics
produce new sensations
for the pilot in command.
- It's very
agreeable to pilot, very delicate,
more so than the 777
which was a bigger machine
and a slightly older style.
Here the dosage is even more delicate,
which makes it very agreeable to pilot.
- An hour from
the pilots do a trial landing
in.
It's barely daylight, but
journalists and enthusiasts
from all around the
region are already there.
On the ground, Serge Vito
changes the crews over.
Without even opening it's doors,
the aircraft takes off again.
In the cockpit, the new
crew tests the power
and reactions of the new Boeing.
The pilots have of course
come to know this cockpit.
They spent a week in
London for flight practice
in a simulator.
The crews practice the
most delicate maneuvers.
Flight controls, aircraft reaction,
everything just as in real life.
The pilot on the right is
accompanied on the left
by,
a pilot in command instructor.
- The simulator
is still very theoretical,
even though it's highly realistic.
By being onboard the real aircraft,
surrounded by the real
atmosphere of it all,
nothing beats the real world.
- At Châteauroux
Airport, pilots undergo
specific training for the
delicate landing phase,
a maneuver repetitively gone through
on the simulator in London.
On the simulator, although
the flight is virtual,
maximum concentration is
needed for this landing phase.
- Approach at
Amsterdam, so we'll descend
at 2,000 feet, then we have a
glide type of three degrees.
- This is the critical phase.
- 100, 50,
40, 30, 20, 10.
- Shall we stay on the runway?
- Useful exercises.
Here at Châteauroux Airport,
the landing is delicately carried out.
It's the big day here at
After two weeks preparation,
everything seems in order
for the new Boeing.
The 787 takes off for Cairo in 42 minutes.
This will be its first commercial flight.
- Down a bit, down.
- These ramp
agents have been briefed
on the fragility of the carbon structure.
They take every precaution.
- You need
to move the safety guard
or it'll catch over there.
Okay, go on.
It absolutely mustn't touch.
If any machine comes in
contact with the aircraft,
it will cause internal damage.
You won't see it with the naked eye.
The section springs back into place.
Even when we do the tour of the aircraft,
we won't see anything,
but there will be damage
on the interior.
You need to leave a gap
of five to 10 centimeters,
definitely no closer.
So even if the aircraft
moves with the wind,
no other machine much
come in contact with it.
What?
Send it in.
On the 787, every container,
every pallet, must be fastened.
- Naturally, nothing
goes exactly as intended.
- Take it out again, then.
It's catching on the rail.
Go on, dammit.
Okay, we're good.
- It's 20
minutes before takeoff.
The aircraft is taking on fuel.
The crew arrives, headed
by Serge Vito, of course.
- The last piece
of the puzzle goes in place
today because it will be on
a true commercial flight.
So we're really at the pinnacle,
the culmination of the whole project.
So, once again, I'm very
happy to be here today.
- For the pilot in command,
it's time for the final verification.
- It's the
last technical verification
from our side of things before takeoff,
so we make sure there
are no apparent impacts
anywhere on the plane.
- The aircraft is ready.
Two of the ground crew will
help the aircraft leave
it's parked position.
They communicate with the pilot in command
through a headset directly
linked to the cockpit.
- Up.
- The aircraft is in position.
The pushback tractor disengages.
The ground crew can unplug.
He waves a red security
ribbon at the pilot,
the signal that everything is in order.
The 787 begins taxiing.
Following the arrival of this new aircraft
at the heart of the company has been
an extraordinary adventure,
a unique journey from Seattle to Paris.
- It's going to
come in from this direction.
Touchdown will be on this runway.
This must be it.
- A unique moment
which has left it's mark.
Engineers, mechanics, heads
of projects, cabin crew,
and, of course, pilots.
- Even after
a career of nearly 30 years,
taking delivery of a
new model of an aircraft
is still very moving.
It's an extraordinary adventure
and often only happens
once in a pilot's lifetime,
so you savor every moment.
- The Boeing
787 lives up to its name,
the Dreamliner.
It's what dreams are made of.
Innovative engines,
unique aerodynamics,
smart cockpit,
a carbon-fiber fuselage,
both light and resistant,
updated windows incorporating
technology of the future.
The 787 is a cocktail of innovation
and everyone's snatching them up.
This model has been customized
by a Japanese company
in the colors of Star Wars.
Originality, which makes the new Boeing
shine across the world.
In total, the 787 has already
flown 145 million passengers.
67 companies have order 1,207
models of the Dreamliner.
So the 787 is a symbol of modernity.
It reminds us of the progress
made in just a few decades.
This aircraft has become an icon
and its career has only just begun.