Do you like Airbus or Boeing Better and why?

Question

I don't like Airbus as much because of the sidesticks. The pilot's sidestick is on the left side, and most people are righties. Boeing's yoke gives more control. Airbus still has wicked planes, though.

Answer 1

I like Boeing better than Airbus because the pilot has more control, they are more robust, and they are far more simple.

Answer 2

I like Boeing better but it's for patriotic reasons. As an American who is proud of his country's technological prowess I may be prejudice. Ya think?

Boeing and Airbus both build fine aircraft. The A340 four engine airliner seemed like a step backward in a time when twin engined aircraft with the same capabilities were being developed (the 777). In an effort to match Boeing's lineup Airbus made a major mistake with the A380 at a time when the hub and spoke systems around the world were imploding with passenger traffic and becoming a nightmare for the flying public. The 787 with it's operational capabilities promises to eliminate the need and use of the hub and spoke system.

I've flown on every major aircraft type over the years and to tell the truth once your inside you can barely tell the difference. I did like the way the little flat video screens folded down from the ceilings when the emergency procedures were explained on the A319.

I believe history will say that of all the Airbus planes developed in this era the A320 series was their smartest move. It's amazing that it didn't put the 737 into the ditch but that bunch at Boeing can do magic. Like the 787 Dreamliner.

Answer 3

I am typed on the B737, B747, B757, B767, B777 and now am flying as Captain on the A320.
I went to Airbus school very biased towards Boeing and I admit, not with an open mind towards the switch.

With experience on both now, I can only say that each aircraft has it's pros and cons. The sidestick - it turns out is the greatest improvement to my flying experience. It is far more natural to use than the old fashioned yoke and frees up the space for a drop down table right in your lap for approach charts (or dinner). As far as using your left hand, this is true if you are in the left seat of any aircraft, yoke or sidestick. The inside hand is for the throttles - and everything else. The right seat uses a right handed sidestick/yoke.

Both aircraft equally use fly-by-wire technology. Only older Boeing aircraft still have cable flight control systems.

Boeing definitely has more user friendly computers, easier more logical navigation systems and the aircraft does not mess with pilot decisions as much. I find myself saying "what is it doing?" far more often on Airbus than Boeing.

But, the Airbus is fun to fly. It has a more comfortable cockpit with much better ergonomics. The seats fit better, the cockpit has better lighting, switches are in easier reach, etc.

Bottom line, they are all solid, safe and well engineered aircraft and the differences between them are not significant from a safety perspective.

Answer 4

I prefer to fly Boeing. I fly the Boeing 767 and I think is still one of the best commercial jets built to date. I can't wait to get moved up into the 747 or the 787. I have never flown a Airbus in real life, but I have flown about 200hrs in a sim for the Airbus A330. The sidestick doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. If I had to choose between Boeing or Airbus, it would definetely be the Boeing without a second thought.

Answer 5

Matthieus Right now boeing aircraft company is as of this reply has a new jet coming out right now it is the boeing 787 dreamliner,and is being tested many of our pilots are now being introduced to flying with this jetliner and wait until it arrives in the top 10 of our nations busiest airports.Here is a fact Did you know that all of our WW2 and Korean Warplanes are now under the boeing umbrella? B 25 P 51 mustangs and some of those others that were once made by the other companies like curtiss north american convair consolidated grumman macdonald douglas a few others not mentioned here are all boeing aircraft.In passenger airplanes I say boeing is the choice from where all legends are born. B 47/B 52 are without question from boeing all helicopters are too from boeing.Exceptions are Lockheed aircraft and independants are not with boeing now but that may change in the late future.Try buying the latest copy of aircraft of the world in book form from your bookstore.

Answer 6

Boeing, with the 787, has the most advanced airplane. Composite primary structure (different materials and design but same basic idea) was used on the B-2, every fighter since about 1980, the A400M, the ATR72, the V-22, and every light plane for the last 20 years. It's perfectly safe, and more fire resistant than aluminum. It doesn't melt.

Also, I prefer the Boeing flight control philosophy- pilot in control. Envelope protection is fine until you need to miss a mountain or another airplane... sometimes exceeding 2.5g is less risky!

Answer 7

Everyone has an opinion mine is based on fact. Boeing has a manual of past mistakes they have made and how not to repeat them. Boeing relies on things that work like still running control cables as a backup.

Boeing helped put a man on the moon and helped land on Mars. The French and their technology miss Mars, and can’t run electrical wires in their new airplane. Airbus cannot seem to provide enough parts to fix all the broken airbuses park around the world (must be a quality issue)

A worst of all Airbus cannot work with composites very well. Their tails break off, just a little math mistake by 2-inches. Explains why they missed Mars.

All of Boeing aircraft meet the certification standards imposed by the FAA in Part 25. I do believe Airbus has ask for many waivers from Part 25 (rudder control to name one).

My money is on Boeing and so is my life. How much do you want to risk on an Airbus?

Answer 8

The control, in the end, is the same. You don't see Airbus struggling to keep in line on approach do you?

Both companies are heading into the dodgy area of the all composite craft. The B787 and the A350. It's all fine until there is an engine fire, if the plane is nose up but going down, if the AoA is such that the flames will hit the composite wing. The Leading edge offers no barrier as it's only Al. Alloy. The composite skins, then Front Spar will melt, the wing at the outboard of that will simply droop off leaving little chance of recovery. That's assuming that once the Front Spar is gone, the fuel doesn't get a bit angry.
They should have tried the all plastic solution on a big military transport craft first, before putting hundreds of people at risk.
I work on an aircraft where the engines are at wing level, the spars/skins are carbon.

Answer 9

As a mechanic I like Airbus they are mechanic freindly but those aircraft seem to be made to minumum tolerances to save weight so things wear out quicker. For durability go with the Boeing.

Answer 10

Given a choice, book me Boeing or I ain't going!