We may have stood next to each other on the MRT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BC_Doc
Have had great flights with air nz in the last week. Auckland-Sinagpore-Auckland-Christchurch.....Just an interesting note......Had a good chat with a relative whilst I was in Singapore who works as a senior engineer for Singapore airlines.
Asked what his view on investment in dreamliners.......he said the were economical because they were so dam light. The caveat to that being they were composite therefore, and small piece of damage meant an expensive replacement. Long term maintenance cost could escalate as a result. Which is why Singapore airlines passed ALL their dreamliners on to their budget carrier Scoot and opted for the new A350s instead.
Anyone got any thoughts on this from an engineering perspective?
Firstly, A350s, like B787s, make extensive use of composite materials.
Secondly, it is all about the total cost of ownership, so while it may be true that some repairs could be more expensive, hopefully the design engineers have got it right and the pros outweigh the cons.
Thirdly, each aircraft type has it's own peculiarities and maintenance requirements, an airline hopes that no show stoppers suddenly appear.
Fourthly, I took the bus to Singapore a week ago and will take the bus home again.
Best Wishes
Paper Tiger