Planespotting - 12 September 2006

I would love to see the Florida Highway Patrol to chase down a DC-9...

Airbus vs Boeing: A Rant

I give up. I really do. This is a hopeless debate.

I've been to a lot of aviation forums, and each and every time someone has to troll or flamebait (usually from the United States, and not an engineer in any way shape or form) this rather silly topic. It reminds me of the whole Apple vs Microsoft debate from people who are exclusively not engineers and do not work for either company.

The most reasonable answer given to me as to why one would choose one aircraft manufacturer over the other was by a fellow planespotter who answered simply that Boeing planes are more fun to fly on simulation. No mention of politics, inferiority, or even ugliness...just the fact that there are slightly more interesting things to do when flying a Boeing plane. And that, my friend, is the most logical answer I've ever received on this stupid debate.

Inferior Metal Birds

In the business of commercial aircraft, you simply CANNOT have a reputation for producing anything "inferior". Any business person will tell you that if you want a lucrative venture, do NOT go into commercial aircraft. Why? Because commercial aircraft manufacturers are almost perpetually in debt. Airlines, for example, is one of the most difficult business to manage. Air travel is dependent on customer's confidence and trust, and such is vital to the well being of the industry, even more so than any other venture.

Part of that trust is the understanding that the aircraft carrying passengers traveling 35,000+ feet in the air and with speeds at up to 0.86 Mach cruising, will arrive safely and quickly to their respective destination. Such a goal requires high quality aircrafts. Once an aircraft manufacturer developed a slight negative reputation, the company is almost certainly done for, whether the rumors are true or not.

Government Subsidies

Developing a commercial aircraft is an expensive process. One can expect to spend up to ten years developing a prototype. A PROTOTYPE. Not even a production model. Who is going to front the money to support all the workers that help develop the prototype all the way up until the delivery? And if the prototype fails? For a ten year project, you can expect loss of millions, even billions of US dollars. And this is prototype failure, not even production loss. At this level we can expect the company to go under, to be bought out, to "merge" with other companies, to be saved by the government with little to no interest debt. Both Airbus and Boeing have been rescued many times by their respective governments. Because that is what government will do for defense companies. Yes, they are both defense contractors. Don't let anyone fool you, the U.S. government made many concessions to save defense companies. I currently work for one such company, recently merged and even more recently saved after the loss of two large contracts. It is a regular process. The question of government subsidies to either company should not even have been a point of contention.

Good Competition

In all honesty, the U.S. military is happy to see that Boeing has an equal competitor. Currently in consideration for US Air Force's purchase of tankers, are Airbus A330s versus the Boeing 767s. Competition breeds better aircrafts, and also forces competitors to lower prices. Several engineers over where I work mentioned that there is no question to the high quality of Airbus planes, material wise and aerodynamic efficiency. The only possible gripe is the difference in philosophy for avionics that the respective aircraft companies have. Boeing believes that pilot should override the computer. Airbus believes otherwise. Which is better is all dependent on your personal preference.

Planespotting...at last

I haven't planespotted in a while because Orlando has been too hot, and I have a feeling my car needs some maintenance before another long trip. On this particular venture, I actually had a mild heat stroke and a painful sunburn on my left arm and shoulder. That's what I get for driving in a car without air conditioning, and no tint on the windows in the middle of the day. But it's all done out of love, I swear! :D

On my way to a small not-so-secret hideout I found on Google Earth, I encountered a place where public school buses are stored/leased.

Sunny Sky?

Florida weather is awesome. I meant that with a hint of sarcasm. When the forecast says scattered showers, they literally mean half of you will be wet and the other half will be dry. Let me demonstrate this in two pictures, both taken from the same spot:
First, look to your left...
...then to your right...

The SAME AirTran DC-9

Probably not, but I think I hit the AirTran route spot, because pretty much all the planes that came by were AirTran. Again, apology for the crappy resolution. No new camera yet. I saw a really pretty Southwest Airline livery on a 737, but unfortunately didn't get a picture of it.

*sigh* Maybe Next Time...

I will:

• Have a better camera
• Find the sites quicker (I spent over 6 USD on the toll booths because I kept making U-turns by missing exits)
• Arrive early in the morning, when it is cooler and there are more cargo jets flying around (cargo jets can have some really interesting liveries)
• Get a VHF scanner of some sort so I can listen to the MCO control towers
• HAVE A BETTER CAMERA

Here's to the next trip, and hopefully I get to meet other spotters on McCoy Road.