Mon, Nov 28, 2011
777 Claims Friendlier Paint, Delivery Processes
The Boeing 777 program is implementing 10 initiatives that will
eliminate 5.5 million pounds CO2 emitted and 300,000 gallons of jet
fuel used annually during the 777 delivery process. The first
customer to benefit from all 10 of the initiatives is Air New
Zealand, which took delivery of a 777-300ER jetliner November
7.
"Air New Zealand is excited to participate," said Duncan Mairs,
Air New Zealand's technical manager currently based in Seattle
overseeing the airline's 777-300ER deliveries. "We have a wide
range of environmental initiatives under way across the business.
Being able to find ways to lessen the environmental impact of
building an airplane is another excellent step on our journey to
becoming the world's most environmentally sustainable airline," he
said.
During the 20-day paint and delivery process, Boeing workers
incorporated new processes including reducing the number of times
potable water and hydraulic filters are changed, using
chromate-free primer in the painting process, and enhancing
recycling and use of electric carts instead of gas-powered
vehicles.
"A team of employees identified redundancies in testing," said
Jeff Klemann, vice president Everett Delivery Center. "One idea was
to eliminate engine-run tests already performed by GE, the 777's
engine manufacturer. This will result in a reduction of 1.4 million
pounds of CO2 in 2012 as well as less community noise and
emissions."
The team also improved flight planning efficiency for
pre-delivery test flights. Reducing fuel loads reduces airplane
weight, which improves fuel economy. By careful pre-planning flight
crews also are able to reduce flight times. The flight-planning
initiatives will save a total of 193,155 gallons of jet fuel
annually.
The chrome-free primer used on the recently delivered Air New
Zealand jet reduces the environmental impact of the paint and
reduces potential health and safety risks during painting. It also
eliminates the need for special handling of paint waste and
clean-up, and designated off-site disposal areas. These advantages
also provide benefit when the airplane is prepared for
repainting.
Nine of the environmental initiatives are now implemented on all
777 airplanes delivered. Use of chrome-free primer is optional. Air
New Zealand will use chrome-free primer on future 777-300ER
deliveries.
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