How does boeing deliver airplanes to a Airline?

Question

I've always wounderd how does boeing the airline company deliver their planes off to the Airlines that buy them. Do they fly it to the hub then get a ride back? how they do it

Answer 1

When our airline receives a new Boeing, a team is selected to go to Everett for three days and give it a test flight. It is an honor at the airline to get to be on this team, and I'm proud to have done it a few times.

The team is comprised of engineers, ergonomists (seat guys), analysts, inflight entertainment specialists, and usually 2 pilots and 6 or so flight attendants.

The airline employees meet on day one and undergo security clearance to get into Boeing. Last time I was there, James H. at Boeing gave us a great guided tour of the plant, complete with complimentary earplugs. We saw a 747 being strung with electrical wire while its wings being assembled about a quarter mile away inside the same plant.

We divided into teams responsible for different parts of the aircraft. We have a meeting where each team receives a massive checklist. We review the checklists and ensure that everyone knows what they're doing tomorrow.

Day two is "Kick the Tires Day." We get up super early and head to Everett and board the aircraft. It was outside on the concrete with all kinds of other brand new planes. They have a rule at Boeing that you are not allowed to take pictures in the plant or on the field because some of the planes have a new "livery," that is a paint scheme.

The kitchen team makes sure all the compartments in the galley are functional and they slide our airline's equipment into the racks for the first time.

The entertainment team sits in every seat in the premium cabins and watches each channel with sound while testing the lights and call buttons at the seats.

The equipment team ensures the emergency equipment is all in the right place for our airline's specifications.

The pilot team makes sure all the buttons and screens in the cockpit are working and they do the walk around outside inspecting the metal, kicking tires, etc. It was cool to walk around the outside, I got a picture of me inside one of the engines!

We mark up the aircraft with red tape wherever we find something sticky, sharp, wrong, broken, hanging, mislabeled or malfunctioning. This is our chance to fix everything before accepting delivery. After that, most of the cosmetic things would be the airline's issue if we didn't find the problem!

Day three is "Fly Day." Fly day is the day that you look forward to the most, of course. If the aircraft passes all of the pilot's tests the day before, then it is time to take her up for a spin. Sometimes, you go and do all the ground work and they have to put off the flying part because there's something that needs fixed before the plane should go up.

I don't know about other airlines but for mine, this is a chance for the pilots to have fun ... they warn you it's not going to be a smooth ride...

They abort the first takeoff, get all the way up to speed and then slow back down. They take off and angle the plane 30 degrees to the left and then to the right. They make a circle then come in for a landing but instead of landing they shoot straight back up into the air.

They depressurize the cabin, letting out the nice airplane air and the oxygen masks drop from their compartments. My water bottle sucked itself in, this guy lost his lunch on his pants.

The best place in the plane to be if you ever get just one chance to do this, is laying down in the aisle in coach when they do the false landing...but, of course, that's against the regulations, so you wouldn't want to be doing that.

The plane stays at Boeing while they repair anything that was reported as an issue. Then two of our airline's pilots will fly out to Seattle as passengers and they fly the plane home to our hub.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

There are also companies which deal specifically with ferry flights - they will supply pilots to fly the new aircraft to the buyer anywhere in the world. It depends on who the buyer is and whether they have pilots available as to whether or not they use these companies. Most small aircraft bought in the USA by people in other countries will be ferried by these companies. They will remove and stow the passenger seats and fit extra fuel tanks to give the range necessary to fly even single engined Cessnas from the USA to Europe and the Middle East and beyond.

Answer 4

When the aircraft is ready for delivery, Boeing contacts the buyer, who in turn send their pilots in order to take the delivery. Sometimes, if the aircraft is the first made in the series, then a ceremony is also held. The neccessary formalities are completed by the manufacturer, buyer, banker and the aircraft is ready for delivery. So..........Happy Boeflying...........
Regards
t$k
http://tsk911.hi5.com

Answer 5

They'll either fly it to wherever the airline asks, or the airline will send it's own pilot to Boeing to fly it home themselves.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I think the company ships the plane via tractor-trailer and assembles it at customers' site. Takes about 5-7 business days.

Answer 8

They have the new owners and pilots come to their facility for training and then they fly them to their prospective hubs themselves.

Answer 9

go to www.airliners.net and search in the forums, this topic is discussed in great detail including routing and how they get smaller jets to carry enough fuel for long flights over water

Answer 10

As the previous pilot said, ferry pilots. Unless it is going to San Francisco, then it is "fairy pilots"