Flying is a wonder, isn’t it? You board a plane, and before you know it, you have cruised through the air. But ever thought how these marvels of engineering—the finished commercial jet planes—get delivered to the airlines? So, let’s look at how finished commercial jet planes are delivered. Buckle up, and let’s take off!
How Commercial Jet Planes Are Built
First of all, let me tell you how commercial jet planes are built. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, where each piece fits perfectly together in forming a commercial jet plane. Some company like Boeing and Airbus is just like a master solver of puzzles. They have huge factories where actually these planes are assembled.
These are factories where various parts of a commercial jet plane are put together. For instance, in one portion, individuals work on the construction of wings, and in another area, workers are building the fuselage—an aero plane’s body. Later, all of these parts are combined to make a completed commercial jet plane. It is just like you are seeing the formation of a gigantic robot!
Now, putting together these parts is not as simple as clicking Legos. Each one has to be carefully inspected for quality and safety. Keep in mind, these commercial jet planes will cruise at very high altitudes with hundreds of passengers on board. Safety is the most important factor.
How Do Companies Deliver Finished Commercial Jet Planes?
Now, how does one deliver a finished commercial jet plane to the airlines? It’s at the same time thrilling and complicated. So, after the commercial jet planes are assembled and undergone all the safety checks, then the process of delivery starts. Now, that is where the fun begins.
One such way is flying finished commercial jets directly to the airline’s base. Picture this if you will: A brand new commercial jet plane making its maiden voyage from the factory to its new home. Special to this flight was that it is the first time the commercial jet plane flew with its new airline’s livery, paint and logo.
Another way that companies deliver finished commercial jet planes is by way of large cargo planes. Yes, you heard me right! They sometimes use other planes to transport these jumbo jet planes. It’s like a plane carrying a plane. The wings of the commercial jet plane may be detached and loaded inside the cargo plane. Then it’s flown to its destination where it’s reassembled.
In some cases, even land transport of the commercial jet planes is possible, provided the destination is not too far away. The plane, in parts, gets transported to their final destination by specialised trucks and trailers. It certainly is a sight to watch when one gets to see a colossal plane being driven down the highway!
The Maiden Flight: New Beginnings
Then, already at the destination, is the time for its first flight. This is the first flight whereby the plane flies under the airline’s command. This is a big deal that is often marked with a water salute. Fire trucks shower arcs of water across the plane as a form of welcome and good luck.
The maiden flight is important because it’s the final test in making sure everything works correctly. Closely monitored by the pilots and engineers, the performance of the plane is put under scrutiny. Minor problems are sorted out so that the safety and comfort of the future passengers may not be put in jeopardy.
Pros of Flying Finished Commercial Jet Planes Directly
Flying completed commercial jets directly to their new home has a few advantages. First of all, the aviation organization is allowed to start working with the aircraft right away. This means that this will allow them to start making reservations and begin serving passengers sooner.
Another advantage is the reduced risk of damage. Flying directly will minimize the eventuality of damages that could have resulted from land transportation. Moreover, it can give the airline a direct look at how the performance of the plane turns out to be during the flight.
Pros of Delivering with Cargo Planes
There are a few advantages to shipping finished commercial planes in cargo planes as well. This allows for the plane to be transported over a long distance without putting on extra hours of flight time on the new jet, and it allows parts of the plane to be shipped different places all at the same time, all arriving together.
Moreover, it may also turn out to be cost-effective for the airlines if the destination is far from the factory. It also offers flexibility in scheduling as the delivery can be planned according to the cargo plane’s availability.
Examples of Successful Deliveries
There have been quite a few successful deliveries of commercial jet planes during these past years. Like when Qatar Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the plane flew directly from the Boeing factory at Seattle to Doha. As a result, this delivery helped the airline to quickly induct that particular plane into their fleet.
Another example is when Airbus delivered some of its A380 fleets to Emirates. The giant bodyplanes were flown directly to Dubai to let the world see the new additions in the airline’s fleet. The direct delivery enabled Emirates to start using the planes immediately for their long-haul flights.
Costs Involved in Delivering Commercial Jet Planes
Delivery of a commercial jet plane is not a cheap affair. Flying a finished jet plane direct to its customer is in the range of thousands of dollars. This is exclusive of the fuel cost, pilot fees, and other logistic expenses involved. Often, it’s considered worth it because of the speed and efficiency it offers.
On the other hand, cargo planes can also prove very costly where dealings are with huge planes like the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350. This cost includes hiring a cargo plane, loading and offloading from the jet, and reassembling at the destination. Again, it still can be cost-effective in long-distance deliveries.
Customization and Final Touches
Finally, once the plane delivers as a commercial jet, some final touching is done by the airline. This may include; installing specific interiors of the airline, an example is seats, entertainment systems, and galleys. Painting with colors and the logo of the airline in case it was not done at the factory.
These customizations are necessary so that the plane will accord with the standards set by the airline and provide the best experience for passengers. It’s like adding the last decorations on the cake and it’s ready to go for the party.
From the intricate production at a factory to the final flights, everything is linked with precision, coordination, and enormous hard work in delivering completed commercial jet planes.
Next time when you board a commercial jet plane, just take a minute or so to reflect on the incredible journey it made to get there. From the factory floor to the runway, it is a story of engineering excellence, hard work, and human ingenuity. Safe travels!
