Southern Air Inc. was a global air cargo carrier headquartered in Florence , Kentucky . It was the first airline to provide ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) service for the wide-body Boeing 777F. On November 17, 2021, Southern Air ceased operations upon its merger into Atlas Air .
95-520: The airline operated an all-Boeing fleet of aircraft, including the Boeing 777F and the Boeing 737-800BCF . Its wide range of services included long-term ACMI , on-demand commercial charters, and Department of Defense Civil Reserve Air Fleet . Southern Air’s operations also supported some of the world’s largest combination carriers as well as government agencies and non-government organizations. The airline
190-422: A 17-year-old 737-800W will be worth $ 9.5 million and leased for $ 140,000 per month. As of May 2019, Boeing had delivered 4,979 737-800s, 116 737-800As, and 21 737-800 BBJ2s, and has twelve 737-800 unfilled orders. The 737-800 is the best-selling variant of the 737NG and is the most widely used narrow-body aircraft. Ryanair , an Irish low-cost airline , is among the largest operators of the Boeing 737-800, with
285-427: A 171,000-pound (78,000 kg) MTOW , but with a cargo payload capacity significantly decreased from 966 to 165 cu ft (27.4 to 4.7 m ), trading payload for increased range of 5,775 nmi (10,695 km; 6,646 mi). The first was delivered on February 16, 2007, to ANA with 24 business-class and 24 premium-economy seats only. A 737-700 can typically accommodate 126 passengers in two classes. It
380-630: A 5.5% fuel savings per aircraft compared to 3.3% savings for the blended winglets. Southwest Airlines flew their first flight of a 737-800 with Split Scimitar winglets on April 14, 2014. The wing was redesigned with a new thinner airfoil section, and a greater chord and increased wing span (by 16 ft [4.9 m]) increased the wing area by 25%, which also increased total fuel capacity by 30%. New quieter and more fuel-efficient CFM56-7B engines are used. Higher MTOWs are offered. The 737NG includes redesigned vertical stabilizers, and winglets are available on most models. The 737NG encompasses
475-528: A 737-800 fuel burn of 4.88 US gal (18.5 L) per seat per hour, compared to 5.13 US gal (19.4 L) for the A320. In 2011, United Airlines — flying a Boeing 737-800 from Houston to Chicago—operated the first U.S. commercial flight powered by a blend of algae-derived biofuel and traditional jet fuel to reduce its carbon footprint . In early 2017, a new 737-800 was valued at $ 48.3 million, falling to below $ 47 million by mid-2018. By 2025,
570-492: A 737-800 results in 0.5% reduction in fuel burn. Delta Air Lines received the first Next-Gen 737 model with this brake package, a 737-700, at the end of July 2008. The CFM56-7B Evolution nacelle began testing in August 2009 to be used on the new 737 PIP (Performance Improvement Package) due to enter service mid-2011. This new improvement is said to shave at least 1% off the overall drag and have some weight benefits. Overall, it
665-454: A MTOW of 174,100 lb (79,000 kg). In 2015, Boeing launched the 737-800SF passenger to freighter conversion program with Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI). The conversion can be completed by AEI or third parties such as HAECO . GECAS was the initial customer. It has a 52,800-pound (23,900 kg) payload capacity, and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi). It received its supplemental type certificate from
760-589: A combination of both. A "mixed" control system with mechanical backup feedbacks any rudder elevation directly to the pilot and therefore makes closed loop (feedback) systems senseless. Aircraft systems may be quadruplexed (four independent channels) to prevent loss of signals in the case of failure of one or even two channels. High performance aircraft that have fly-by-wire controls (also called CCVs or Control-Configured Vehicles) may be deliberately designed to have low or even negative stability in some flight regimes – rapid-reacting CCV controls can electronically stabilize
855-416: A fleet of over 400 of the -800 variant serving routes across Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. In February 2016, Boeing launched a passenger-to-freighter conversion program, with converted aircraft designated as 737-800BCF (for Boeing Converted Freighter). Boeing started the program with orders for 55 conversions, with the first converted aircraft due for late 2017 delivery. The first converted aircraft
950-499: A higher data transfer rate, immunity to electromagnetic interference and lighter weight. In most cases, the cables are just changed from electrical to optical fiber cables. Sometimes it is referred to as "fly-by-light" due to its use of fiber optics. The data generated by the software and interpreted by the controller remain the same. Fly-by-light has the effect of decreasing electro-magnetic disturbances to sensors in comparison to more common fly-by-wire control systems. The Kawasaki P-1
1045-533: A lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government, claiming that dozens of 737NG contained defective structural elements supplied by airframe manufacturer Ducommun , allegations denied by Boeing. The federal judge presiding the case sided with Boeing, and a subsequent court of appeal also ruled in favor of the company. A 2010 documentary by Al Jazeera alleged that in three crashes involving 737NGs— Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 , American Airlines Flight 331 , and AIRES Flight 8250 —the fuselage broke up following impact with
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#17327827556071140-566: A lifetime of 90,000 flights. Boeing reported the issue to the FAA at the end of September 2019, and more planes showed similar cracking after inspection. The cracks were found in an airliner with more than 33,500 flights, when it was stripped down for conversion to freighter. Aircraft with more than 30,000 flights (15 years at 2,000 flights per year) should be inspected within one week, while those with over 22,600 flights (11 years) should be inspected within one year. The FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD)
1235-403: A long history of airline operations. Southern Air operated the following aircraft: [REDACTED] Media related to Southern Air at Wikimedia Commons Boeing 737 Next Generation#737-800 The Boeing 737 Next Generation , commonly abbreviated as 737NG , or 737 Next Gen , is a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes . Launched in 1993 as
1330-422: A maneuverable fighter), which means that the stability surfaces that are part of the aircraft structure can therefore be made smaller. These include the vertical and horizontal stabilizers (fin and tailplane ) that are (normally) at the rear of the fuselage . If these structures can be reduced in size, airframe weight is reduced. The advantages of fly-by-wire controls were first exploited by the military and then in
1425-406: A new -700 stayed around $ 35 million from 2008 to 2018. A 2003 aircraft was valued for $ 15.5 million in 2016 and $ 12 million in 2018 and will be scrapped for $ 6 million by 2023. The 737-700C is a convertible version where the seats can be removed to carry cargo instead. There is a large door on the left side of the aircraft. The United States Navy was the launch customer for the 737-700C under
1520-1169: A new aircraft livery as well as new corporate branding. In early 2011, Southern Air entered into a multiple year contract with DHL Aviation ; by utilizing the Boeing 777 , Southern Air was able to augment DHL's overnight express package delivery service through hubs in Cincinnati , Bahrain , Hong Kong and Anchorage , increasing package delivery options provided by DHL to its customers. The same year, Southern Air gradually retired its fleet of Boeing 747-200, 747-300 and 747-400BDSF models. On 28 September 2012, Southern Air filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and emerged from bankruptcy in early 2013. In 2014, Southern Air took delivery of five 737-400SF passenger-to-cargo converted aircraft. On April 7, 2016, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings purchased Southern Air for $ 110 million in an all-cash deal. The transaction included Worldwide Air Logistics Group, Inc. and its two operating subsidiaries, Southern Air, Inc. and Florida West International Airways, Inc. On November 17, 2021, Southern Air became fully integrated into Atlas Air through an airline merger, ending
1615-479: A total of 5,205 aircraft. Boeing stopped assembling commercial 737NGs in 2019 and made the final deliveries in January 2020. The 737NG is superseded by the fourth generation 737 MAX , introduced in 2017. When regular Boeing customer United Airlines bought the more technologically advanced Airbus A320 with fly-by-wire controls, this prompted Boeing to update the slower, shorter-range 737 Classic variants into
1710-656: A wired protocol for the physical layer a wireless protocol is employed. In addition to reducing weight, implementing a wireless solution has the potential to reduce costs throughout an aircraft's life cycle. For example, many key failure points associated with wire and connectors will be eliminated thus hours spent troubleshooting wires and connectors will be reduced. Furthermore, engineering costs could potentially decrease because less time would be spent on designing wiring installations, late changes in an aircraft's design would be easier to manage, etc. A newer flight control system, called intelligent flight control system (IFCS),
1805-456: Is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals, and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control surface to provide the ordered response. Implementations either use mechanical flight control backup systems or else are fully electronic. Improved fully fly-by-wire systems interpret
1900-457: Is an extension of modern digital fly-by-wire flight control systems. The aim is to intelligently compensate for aircraft damage and failure during flight, such as automatically using engine thrust and other avionics to compensate for severe failures such as loss of hydraulics, loss of rudder, loss of ailerons, loss of an engine, etc. Several demonstrations were made on a flight simulator where a Cessna -trained small-aircraft pilot successfully landed
1995-479: Is available for the 737NG models and standard equipment for the 737-900ER. In July 2008, Boeing offered Messier-Bugatti-Dowty 's new carbon brakes for the Next-Gen 737s, which are intended to replace steel brakes and will reduce the weight of the brake package by 550–700 pounds (250–320 kg) depending on whether standard or high-capacity steel brakes were fitted. A weight reduction of 700 pounds (320 kg) on
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#17327827556072090-434: Is claimed to have a 2% improvement on fuel burn on longer stages. This short-field design package is an option on the 737-600, -700, and -800 and is standard equipment for the new 737-900ER. These enhanced short runway versions could increase pay or fuel loads when operating on runways under 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Landing payloads were increased by up to 8,000 lb on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 4,000 lb on
2185-639: Is similar to the Airbus A319LR . The Boeing 737-800 is a stretched version of the 737-700. It replaced the 737-400 and competes primarily with the Airbus A320 . The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two-class layout or 189 passengers in a one-class layout. The 737−800 was launched on September 5, 1994. Launch customer Hapag-Lloyd Flug (now TUI fly Deutschland ) received the first one in April 1998. Following Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas,
2280-432: Is the first production aircraft in the world to be equipped with such a flight control system. Having eliminated the mechanical transmission circuits in fly-by-wire flight control systems, the next step is to eliminate the bulky and heavy hydraulic circuits. The hydraulic circuit is replaced by an electrical power circuit. The power circuits power electrical or self-contained electrohydraulic actuators that are controlled by
2375-648: Is used in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and in Airbus A380 backup flight controls. The Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 also incorporate electrically powered backup flight controls which remain operational even in the event of a total loss of hydraulic power. Wiring adds a considerable amount of weight to an aircraft; therefore, researchers are exploring implementing fly-by-wireless solutions. Fly-by-wireless systems are very similar to fly-by-wire systems, however, instead of using
2470-632: The Airbus A319 . In long-range cruise, it burns 4,440 lb (2,010 kg) per hour at Mach 0.785 (450 kn; 834 km/h) and FL410, increasing to 4,620–4,752 lb (2,096–2,155 kg) at Mach 0.80 – Mach 0.82 (459–470 kn; 850–871 km/h). As of July 2018, all -700 series on order, 1,128 -700, 120 -700 BBJ, 20 -700C, and 14 -700W aircraft, have been delivered. By June 2018, around one thousand were in service: half of them with Southwest Airlines , followed by WestJet with 56 and United Airlines with 39. The value of
2565-513: The Airbus A320 , Airbus flight-envelope control systems always retain ultimate flight control when flying under normal law and will not permit pilots to violate aircraft performance limits unless they choose to fly under alternate law. This strategy has been continued on subsequent Airbus airliners. However, in the event of multiple failures of redundant computers, the A320 does have a mechanical back-up system for its pitch trim and its rudder,
2660-667: The Airbus A340 has a purely electrical (not electronic) back-up rudder control system and beginning with the A380, all flight-control systems have back-up systems that are purely electrical through the use of a "three-axis Backup Control Module" (BCM). Boeing airliners, such as the Boeing 777 , allow the pilots to completely override the computerized flight control system, permitting the aircraft to be flown outside of its usual flight control envelope. The advent of FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) engines permits operation of
2755-459: The FAA in early 2019. In March 2019, the first AEI converted aircraft was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on lease from GECAS. The Civil Aviation Administration of China cleared it in January 2020. Aircraft lessor Macquarie AirFinance ordered four 737-800SFs in March 2021. Boeing later introduced the 737-900, an even longer variant stretched to 138 ft 2 in (42.11 m). Because
2850-710: The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit flying wing to fly in usable and safe manners. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has adopted the RTCA / DO-178C , titled "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification", as the certification standard for aviation software. Any safety-critical component in a digital fly-by-wire system including applications of
2945-422: The -600, -700, -800, and -900 with improved performance and commonality retained from previous 737 models. The wing, engine, and fuel capacity improvements combined increase the 737's range by 900 nautical miles [nmi] (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) to over 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi), permitting transcontinental service. The Speed Trim System, introduced on the 737 Classic, has been updated for
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3040-615: The 737-500 and is similar to the Airbus A318 . Winglets were not an option. WestJet was to launch the -600 with winglets, but dropped them in 2006. In November 1993, Southwest Airlines launched the Next-Generation program with an order for 63 737-700s and took delivery of the first one in December 1997. It replaced the 737-300, typically seating 126 passengers in two classes to 149 in all-economy configuration, similar to
3135-627: The 737-600 and 737-700. Takeoff payloads were increased by up to 2,000 lb on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 400 lb on the 737-600 and 737-700. The package includes: The first enhanced version was delivered to Gol Transportes Aéreos (GOL) on July 31, 2006. At that time, twelve customers had ordered the package for more than 250 airframes. Customers include: GOL, Alaska Airlines , Air Europa , Air India , Egyptair , GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), Hapagfly , Japan Airlines , Pegasus Airlines , Ryanair , Sky Airlines and Turkish Airlines . In 2005, three ex-Boeing employees filed
3230-512: The 737-800 also filled the gap left by Boeing's decision to discontinue the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft. For many airlines in the U.S., the 737-800 replaced aging Boeing 727-200 trijets . The 737-800 burns 850 US gallons (3,200 L) of jet fuel per hour—about 80 percent of the fuel used by an MD-80 on a comparable flight, while carrying more passengers. The Airline Monitor, an industry publication, quotes
3325-522: The 737-800, and has increased range (through the use of extra fuel tanks) over the other various 737 models. The first BBJ rolled out on August 11, 1998, and flew for the first time on September 4. A total of 113 BBJ1s were delivered to customers. On October 11, 1999, Boeing launched the BBJ2. Based on the 737-800, it is 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m) longer than the BBJ1, with 25% more cabin space and twice
3420-480: The 737NG to include a stall identification function. Originally inhibited in high alpha scenarios, STS operates at any speed on the 737NG. STS is triggered by airspeed sensor and commands Airplane Nose Down as the airplane slows down. The flight deck was upgraded with modern avionics, and passenger cabin improvements similar to those on the Boeing 777 , including more curved surfaces and larger overhead bins than previous-generation 737s. The Next Generation 737 interior
3515-503: The A330/A340 family, fuel is transferred between the main (wing and center fuselage) tanks and a fuel tank in the horizontal stabilizer, to optimize the aircraft's center of gravity during cruise flight. The fuel management controls keep the aircraft's center of gravity accurately trimmed with fuel weight, rather than drag-inducing aerodynamic trims in the elevators. Fly-by-optics is sometimes used instead of fly-by-wire because it offers
3610-514: The Boeing Converted Freighter design because the operational economics are attractive due to the low operating costs and availability of certified pilots on a robust airframe. Modifications to the 737-800 airframe include installing a large cargo door, a cargo handling system, and additional accommodations for non-flying crew or passengers. The aircraft is designed to fly up to 1,995 nmi (3,695 km; 2,296 mi) at
3705-477: The US in-service fleet of 1,930. By early November, 1,200 aircraft were inspected, with cracks on about 60 (5%). Cracks were discovered near fasteners outside the original area in four airplanes. On November 5, Boeing recommended expanding the checks to include them, to be mandated in a November 13 FAA AD . Aircraft below 30,000 cycles were to be reinspected within 1,000 cycles, within 60 days above. About one-quarter of
3800-688: The aircraft and adjust the flying characteristics without the pilot's involvement, and to prevent the pilot from operating outside of the aircraft's safe performance envelope . Mechanical and hydro-mechanical flight control systems are relatively heavy and require careful routing of flight control cables through the aircraft by systems of pulleys, cranks, tension cables and hydraulic pipes. Both systems often require redundant backup to deal with failures, which increases weight. Both have limited ability to compensate for changing aerodynamic conditions. Dangerous characteristics such as stalling , spinning and pilot-induced oscillation (PIO), which depend mainly on
3895-409: The aircraft from being handled dangerously by preventing pilots from exceeding preset limits on the aircraft's flight-control envelope, such as those that prevent stalls and spins, and which limit airspeeds and g forces on the airplane. Software can also be included that stabilize the flight-control inputs to avoid pilot-induced oscillations . Since the flight-control computers continuously feedback
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3990-450: The aircraft's equations of motion to determine the appropriate command signals for the flight controls to execute the intentions of the pilot. The programming of the digital computers enable flight envelope protection . These protections are tailored to an aircraft's handling characteristics to stay within aerodynamic and structural limitations of the aircraft. For example, the computer in flight envelope protection mode can try to prevent
4085-594: The appropriate "feel" forces on the manual controls. This was used in Concorde , the first production fly-by-wire airliner. A digital fly-by-wire flight control system can be extended from its analog counterpart. Digital signal processing can receive and interpret input from multiple sensors simultaneously (such as the altimeters and the pitot tubes ) and adjust the controls in real time. The computers sense position and force inputs from pilot controls and aircraft sensors. They then solve differential equations related to
4180-480: The automatic-electronic system, which flared the aircraft, when it was close to the ground. In 1941, Karl Otto Altvater, who was an engineer at Siemens , developed and tested the first fly-by-wire system for the Heinkel He 111 , in which the aircraft was fully controlled by electronic impulses. The first non-experimental aircraft that was designed and flown (in 1958) with a fly-by-wire flight control system
4275-634: The baggage space, but with slightly reduced range. It is also fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks in the cargo hold and winglets. The first BBJ2 was delivered on February 28, 2001. A total of 23 BBJ2s were delivered to customers. The BBJ3 aircraft is based on the 737-900ER aircraft. The BBJ3 is approximately 16 feet (4.9 m) longer than the BBJ2 and has a slightly shorter range. Seven BBJ3s were delivered to customers. As of July 2018, 6,343 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft were in commercial service. This comprised 69 -600s, 1,027 -700s, 4,764 -800s and 513 -900s. Fly-by-wire Fly-by-wire ( FBW )
4370-527: The case of the Tornado this allows rudimentary control of the stabilators only for pitch and roll axis movements. Servo-electrically operated control surfaces were first tested in the 1930s on the Soviet Tupolev ANT-20 . Long runs of mechanical and hydraulic connections were replaced with wires and electric servos. In 1934, Karl Otto Altvater [ de ] filed a patent about
4465-447: The combined system is designed to exclude the results from that computer in deciding the appropriate actions for the flight controls. Depending on specific system details there may be the potential to reboot an aberrant flight control computer, or to reincorporate its inputs if they return to agreement. Complex logic exists to deal with multiple failures, which may prompt the system to revert to simpler back-up modes. In addition, most of
4560-440: The commercial airline market. The Airbus series of airliners used full-authority fly-by-wire controls beginning with their A320 series, see A320 flight control (though some limited fly-by-wire functions existed on A310 aircraft). Boeing followed with their 777 and later designs. A pilot commands the flight control computer to make the aircraft perform a certain action, such as pitch the aircraft up, or roll to one side, by moving
4655-462: The complexity, fragility and weight of the mechanical circuit of the hydromechanical or electromechanical flight control systems – each being replaced with electronic circuits. The control mechanisms in the cockpit now operate signal transducers, which in turn generate the appropriate commands. These are next processed by an electronic controller—either an analog one, or (more modernly) a digital one. Aircraft and spacecraft autopilots are now part of
4750-418: The computer, which can automatically move control actuators to stabilize the aircraft. While traditional mechanical or hydraulic control systems usually fail gradually, the loss of all flight control computers immediately renders the aircraft uncontrollable. For this reason, most fly-by-wire systems incorporate either redundant computers (triplex, quadruplex etc.), some kind of mechanical or hydraulic backup or
4845-436: The control column or sidestick . The flight control computer then calculates what control surface movements will cause the plane to perform that action and issues those commands to the electronic controllers for each surface. The controllers at each surface receive these commands and then move actuators attached to the control surface until it has moved to where the flight control computer commanded it to. The controllers measure
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#17327827556074940-409: The delivery on May 15, 2001. The type proved unpopular, with only 52 delivered, before being replaced by the improved 737-900ER. The 737-900ER (Extended Range), which was called the 737-900X before launch, was the final and largest variant of the Boeing 737 NG line. It was introduced to fill the range and passenger capacity gap in Boeing's product offerings after the 757-200 was discontinued, address
5035-433: The digital flight control computers. All benefits of digital fly-by-wire are retained since the power-by-wire components are strictly complementary to the fly-by-wire components. The biggest benefits are weight savings, the possibility of redundant power circuits and tighter integration between the aircraft flight control systems and its avionics systems. The absence of hydraulics greatly reduces maintenance costs. This system
5130-407: The early digital fly-by-wire aircraft also had an analog electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic back-up flight control system. The Space Shuttle had, in addition to its redundant set of four digital computers running its primary flight-control software, a fifth backup computer running a separately developed, reduced-function, software flight-control system – one that could be commanded to take over in
5225-594: The early to mid-60s. The program was curtailed when the air-frame ran out of flight time. In 1972, the first digital fly-by-wire fixed-wing aircraft without a mechanical backup to take to the air was an F-8 Crusader , which had been modified electronically by NASA of the United States as a test aircraft ; the F-8 used the Apollo guidance, navigation and control hardware . The Airbus A320 began service in 1988 as
5320-430: The electronic controller. The hydraulic circuits are similar except that mechanical servo valves are replaced with electrically controlled servo valves, operated by the electronic controller. This is the simplest and earliest configuration of an analog fly-by-wire flight control system. In this configuration, the flight control systems must simulate "feel". The electronic controller controls electrical devices that provide
5415-449: The environment, pilot's workloads can be reduced. This also enables military aircraft with relaxed stability . The primary benefit for such aircraft is more maneuverability during combat and training flights, and the so-called "carefree handling" because stalling, spinning and other undesirable performances are prevented automatically by the computers. Digital flight control systems (DFCS) enable inherently unstable combat aircraft, such as
5510-601: The event that a fault ever affected all of the other four computers. This backup system served to reduce the risk of total flight control system failure ever happening because of a general-purpose flight software fault that had escaped notice in the other four computers. For airliners, flight-control redundancy improves their safety, but fly-by-wire control systems, which are physically lighter and have lower maintenance demands than conventional controls also improve economy, both in terms of cost of ownership and for in-flight economy. In certain designs with limited relaxed stability in
5605-475: The factory for test flights on Day 10. Boeing stopped assembling passenger 737NGs in 2019. The last aircraft assembled was a 737-800 registered PH-BCL delivered to KLM in December 2019; the last two deliveries were to China Eastern Airlines on January 5, 2020. Production of the P-8 Poseidon variant continues. The FAA has proposed a fine of approximately $ 3.9 million for Boeing's alleged installation of
5700-510: The first mass-produced airliner with digital fly-by-wire controls. As of June 2024, over 11,000 A320 family aircraft, variants included, are operational around the world, making it one of the best-selling commercial jets. Boeing chose fly-by-wire flight controls for the 777 in 1994, departing from traditional cable and pulley systems. In addition to overseeing the aircraft's flight control, the FBW offered " envelope protection ", which guaranteed that
5795-412: The flight control systems and autothrottles for the engines to be fully integrated. On modern military aircraft other systems such as autostabilization, navigation, radar and weapons system are all integrated with the flight control systems. FADEC allows maximum performance to be extracted from the aircraft without fear of engine misoperation, aircraft damage or high pilot workloads. In the civil field,
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#17327827556075890-569: The fuselage. A total of 505 -900ERs were delivered. In the late 1980s, Boeing marketed the Boeing 77-33 jet, a business jet version of the 737-300. The name was short-lived. After the introduction of the next generation series, Boeing introduced the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). The BBJ (retroactively referred to as the BBJ1) was similar in dimensions to the 737-700 but had additional features, including stronger wings and landing gear from
5985-707: The global NG fleet of 6,300 aircraft were to be inspected. Following the contained engine failure of the Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 on April 17, 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended on November 19, 2019, to redesign and retrofit its nacelle for the 6,800 airplanes in service. Boeing was to increase 737 production from 31.5 units per month in September 2010 to 35 in January 2012 and to 38 units per month in 2013. Production rate
6080-421: The ground because of the defective structural components that were the subject of the 2005 lawsuit. However, the accident investigations in all three cases did not highlight any link between post-impact structural failures and manufacturing issues. During an inspection of a 737NG in 2019 that had 35,000 flights, fatigue cracks were found on a fuselage-to-wing attachment known as a "pickle fork", designed to last
6175-532: The integration increases flight safety and economy. Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft are protected from dangerous situations such as low-speed stall or overstressing by flight envelope protection . As a result, in such conditions, the flight control systems commands the engines to increase thrust without pilot intervention. In economy cruise modes, the flight control systems adjust the throttles and fuel tank selections precisely. FADEC reduces rudder drag needed to compensate for sideways flight from unbalanced engine thrust. On
6270-526: The lack of natural stability. Pre-flight safety checks of a fly-by-wire system are often performed using built-in test equipment (BITE). A number of control movement steps can be automatically performed, reducing workload of the pilot or groundcrew and speeding up flight-checks. Some aircraft, the Panavia Tornado for example, retain a very basic hydro-mechanical backup system for limited flight control capability on losing electrical power; in
6365-440: The laws of aeronautics and computer operating systems will need to be certified to DO-178C Level A or B, depending on the class of aircraft, which is applicable for preventing potential catastrophic failures. Nevertheless, the top concern for computerized, digital, fly-by-wire systems is reliability, even more so than for analog electronic control systems. This is because the digital computers that are running software are often
6460-492: The military designation C-40 Clipper . Boeing launched the 737-700ER (Extended Range) on January 31, 2006, with All Nippon Airways as the launch customer. Inspired by the Boeing Business Jet , it features the fuselage of the 737-700 and the wings and landing gear of the 737-800. When outfitted with nine auxiliary fuel tanks, it can hold 10,707 US gallons (40,530 L; 8,915 imp gal) of fuel with
6555-561: The more efficient, longer New Generation variants. In 1991, Boeing initiated development of an updated series of aircraft. After working with potential customers, the 737 Next Generation (NG) program was announced on November 17, 1993. The first NG to roll out was a 737−700, on December 8, 1996. This aircraft, the 2,843rd 737 built, first flew on February 9, 1997, with pilots Mike Hewett and Ken Higgins. The prototype 737−800 rolled out on June 30, 1997, and first flew on July 31, 1997, piloted by Jim McRoberts and again by Hewett. The smallest of
6650-520: The new variants, the −600 series, is identical in size to the −500, launching in December 1997 with an initial flight occurring January 22, 1998; it was granted FAA certification on August 18, 1998. The flight test program used 10 aircraft: 3 -600s, 4 -700s, and 3 -800s. In 2004, Boeing offered a Short Field Performance package in response to the needs of Gol Transportes Aéreos , which frequently operates from restricted airports. The enhancements improve takeoff and landing performance. The optional package
6745-703: The only control path between the pilot and aircraft's flight control surfaces . If the computer software crashes for any reason, the pilot may be unable to control an aircraft. Hence virtually all fly-by-wire flight control systems are either triply or quadruply redundant in their computers and electronics . These have three or four flight-control computers operating in parallel and three or four separate data buses connecting them with each control surface. The multiple redundant flight control computers continuously monitor each other's output. If one computer begins to give aberrant results for any reason, potentially including software or hardware failures or flawed input data, then
6840-425: The pilot in accordance with control parameters. Side-sticks or conventional flight control yokes can be used to fly fly-by-wire aircraft. A fly-by-wire aircraft can be lighter than a similar design with conventional controls. This is partly due to the lower overall weight of the system components and partly because the natural stability of the aircraft can be relaxed (slightly for a transport aircraft; more for
6935-463: The pilot's control inputs as a desired outcome and calculate the control surface positions required to achieve that outcome; this results in various combinations of rudder , elevator , aileron , flaps and engine controls in different situations using a closed feedback loop. The pilot may not be fully aware of all the control outputs acting to affect the outcome, only that the aircraft is reacting as expected. The fly-by-wire computers act to stabilize
7030-627: The pilot. The first electronic fly-by-wire testbed operated by the U.S. Air Force was a Boeing B-47E Stratojet (Ser. No. 53-2280) The first pure electronic fly-by-wire aircraft with no mechanical or hydraulic backup was the Apollo Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV), first flown in 1968. This was preceded in 1964 by the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) which pioneered fly-by-wire flight with no mechanical backup. Control
7125-399: The pitch axis, for example the Boeing 777, the flight control system may allow the aircraft to fly at a more aerodynamically efficient angle of attack than a conventionally stable design. Modern airliners also commonly feature computerized Full-Authority Digital Engine Control systems ( FADECs ) that control their engines, air inlets, fuel storage and distribution system, in a similar fashion to
7220-422: The pivoting bins, thus allowing a 737-800 to hold 174 carry-on bags . Boeing also offered it as a retrofit for older 737NG aircraft. The 737-600 was launched by SAS in March 1995, with the first aircraft delivered in September 1998. A total of 69 have been produced, with the last aircraft delivered to WestJet in 2006. Boeing displayed the 737-600 in its price list until August 2012. The 737-600 replaces
7315-471: The plant on Day 1. Electrical wiring is installed on Day 2 and hydraulic machinery on Day 3. On Day 4 the fuselage is crane-lifted and rotated 90 degrees, wings are mated to the airplane in a six-hour process, along with landing gear , and the airplane is again rotated 90 degrees. The final assembly process begins on Day 6 with the installation of airline seats , galleys , lavatories , overhead bins , etc. Engines are attached on Day 8 and it rolls out of
7410-425: The position of the flight control surface with sensors such as LVDTs . Fly-by-wire control systems allow aircraft computers to perform tasks without pilot input. Automatic stability systems operate in this way. Gyroscopes and sensors such as accelerometers are mounted in an aircraft to sense rotation on the pitch, roll and yaw axes . Any movement (from straight and level flight for example) results in signals to
7505-631: The same faulty components of the 737 MAX on some one hundred and thirty-three 737 NGs. From 2006, Boeing discussed replacing the 737 with a "clean sheet" design (internally named " Boeing Y1 ") that could follow the Boeing 787 Dreamliner . A decision on this replacement was postponed, and delayed into 2011. In 2011, Boeing launched the 737 MAX, an updated and re-engined version of the 737NG with more efficient CFM International LEAP -1B engines, and aerodynamic changes with distinctive split-tip winglets . The first 737 MAX performed its first flight in January 2016. The fourth generation 737 MAX supersedes
7600-477: The shortcomings of the 737-900, and to directly compete with the Airbus A321 . Up to two auxiliary fuel tanks in the cargo hold and standard winglets improved the range of the stretched jet to that of other 737NG variants, while an additional pair of exit doors and a flat rear pressure bulkhead increased maximum seating capacity to 220 passengers. Airlines may deactivate (plug) the additional exit doors if
7695-405: The stability and structure of the aircraft rather than the control system itself, are dependent on the pilot's actions. The term "fly-by-wire" implies a purely electrically signaled control system. It is used in the general sense of computer-configured controls, where a computer system is interposed between the operator and the final control actuators or surfaces. This modifies the manual inputs of
7790-496: The system would step in to avoid accidental mishandling, stalls, or excessive structural stress on the aircraft. The 777 used ARINC 629 buses to connect primary flight computers (PFCs) with actuator-control electronics units (ACEs). Every PFC housed three 32-bit microprocessors, including a Motorola 68040 , an Intel 80486 , and an AMD 29050 , all programmed in Ada programming language. All fly-by-wire flight control systems eliminate
7885-487: The third generation 737NG. Split Scimitar winglets became available in 2014 for the 737-800, 737-900ER, BBJ2 and BBJ3, and in 2015 for the 737-700, 737-900 and BBJ1. These resemble the 737 MAX's split winglet, though they are not identical. Split Scimitar winglets were developed by Aviation Partners , the same Seattle-based corporation that developed the blended winglets; the Split Scimitar winglets produce up to
7980-493: The third generation derivative of the Boeing 737 , it has been produced since 1997. The 737NG is an upgrade of the 737 Classic (–300/–400/–500) series. Compared to the 737 Classic, it has a redesigned wing with a larger area, a wider wingspan, greater fuel capacity, and higher maximum takeoff weights (MTOW) and longer range. It has CFM International CFM56-7 series engines, a glass cockpit , and upgraded and redesigned interior configurations. The series includes four variants,
8075-454: The total configured capacity of the plane is 189 passengers or less. The first 737-900ER was rolled out of the Renton, Washington , factory on August 8, 2006, for its launch customer, Lion Air , an Indonesian low-cost airline . The airline received this aircraft on April 27, 2007, in a special dual paint scheme combining Lion Air's logo on the vertical stabilizer and Boeing's livery colors on
8170-578: The way that FBW controls the flight control surfaces. This allows the engine output to be continually varied for the most efficient usage possible. The second generation Embraer E-Jet family gained a 1.5% efficiency improvement over the first generation from the fly-by-wire system, which enabled a reduction from 280 ft.² to 250 ft.² for the horizontal stabilizer on the E190/195 variants. Airbus and Boeing differ in their approaches to implementing fly-by-wire systems in commercial aircraft. Since
8265-413: The –600/–700/–800/–900, seating between 108 and 215 passengers. The 737NG's primary competition is the Airbus A320 family . As of September 2024 , a total of 7,126 737NG aircraft had been ordered, of which 7,112 had been delivered, with remaining orders for two -700, two -800, and 10 -800A variants. The most-ordered variant was the 737-800, with 4,991 commercial, 191 military, and 23 corporate, or
8360-453: The −900 retains the same exit configuration of the -800, seating capacity is limited to 189, although aircraft equipped with a typical 2-class layout will seat approximately 177. The 737-900 also retains the MTOW and fuel capacity of the −800, trading range for payload. Alaska Airlines launched the 737-900 in 1997, the 737-900 made its first flight on August 3, 2000, and Alaska Airlines accepted
8455-589: Was 42 units per month in 2014, and was planned to reach rates of 47 units per month in 2017 and 52 units per month in 2018. In 2016, the monthly production rate was targeted to reach 57 units per month in 2019, even to the factory limit of 63 units later. A single airplane was then produced in the Boeing Renton Factory in 10 days, less than half what it was a few years before. The empty fuselage from Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas , enters
8550-500: Was also adopted on the Boeing 757-300 . This improved on the previous interior of the Boeing 757-200 and the Boeing 737 Classic variants, the new interior became optional on the 757-200. In 2010, new interior options for the 737NG included the 787 -style Boeing Sky Interior. It introduced new pivoting overhead bins (a first for a Boeing narrow-body aircraft), new sidewalls, new passenger service units, and LED mood lighting. Boeing's newer "Space Bins" can carry 50 percent more than
8645-423: Was delivered to West Atlantic in April 2018. At the 2018 Farnborough Airshow , GECAS announced an agreement for 20 firm orders and 15 option orders for the 737-800BCF, raising the commitment to 50 aircraft. Total orders and commitments include 80 aircraft to over half a dozen customers. Since early 737NG aircraft become available on the market, they have been actively marketed to be converted to cargo planes via
8740-455: Was established on March 5, 1999, by James Neff, out of the assets of Southern Air Transport . The carrier started operations in November 1999. On September 7, 2007, Oak Hill Capital Partners acquired majority ownership of Southern Air and merged Cargo 360 into the airline. In early 2010, Southern Air took delivery of two Boeing 777 freighters. At the same time, Southern Air introduced
8835-455: Was issued on October 3, 2019. Of the 500 first inspected aircraft, 5% (25) had cracks and were grounded; Boeing expected to repair the first aircraft three weeks after the issuance of the directive, serving as the template for the resulting Service bulletin . Of the 810 examined aircraft over 30,000 cycles, 38 had structural cracks (4.7%), leaving 1,911 737NGs over 22,600 cycles to be inspected within their next 1,000 cycles, i.e., nearly all of
8930-609: Was the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow , a feat not repeated with a production aircraft (though the Arrow was cancelled with five built) until Concorde in 1969, which became the first fly-by-wire airliner. This system also included solid-state components and system redundancy, was designed to be integrated with a computerised navigation and automatic search and track radar, was flyable from ground control with data uplink and downlink, and provided artificial feel (feedback) to
9025-818: Was through a digital computer with three analog redundant channels. In the USSR, the Sukhoi T-4 also flew. At about the same time in the United Kingdom a trainer variant of the British Hawker Hunter fighter was modified at the British Royal Aircraft Establishment with fly-by-wire flight controls for the right-seat pilot. In the UK the two seater Avro 707 C was flown with a Fairey system with mechanical backup in
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