The 787 takes flight, and lives up to its promise

October 26, 2011|Scott Mayerowitz, AP Airlines Writer

Passengers of an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 are welcomed by lion dance… (AP Photo/Vincent Yu )

It’s the plane that is supposed to change the experience of flying.

No more stuffy noses, dry throats or severe fatigue. Larger windows to provide a stronger connection to the world outside. And mood lighting that can either ease jet lag or turn the plane into a nightclub at 40,000 feet.

And for the most part, Boeing’s 787 succeeds. Flying it is more enjoyable. But it’s still flying. Just because the plane is new doesn’t mean the food will taste better or you won’t be stuck in front of a kicking kid.

There has been plenty of hype surrounding the 787, a long-range plane marketed as The Dreamliner that carried its first passengers Wednesday on a four-hour flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. It has been called “revolutionary’’ and “a game-changer.’’

And, indeed, a sleek design makes the plane stand out the moment you step on board. A higher ceiling — at least the perception of one — reduces claustrophobia. And natural light pours in, creating a welcoming feeling.

Maybe that 10-hour flight won’t be so bad after all. Maybe.

The biggest benefit should come from features that fight jet lag. Those couldn’t really be experienced by the 240 reporters and aviation enthusiasts who made the relatively short inaugural flight.

They include a doubling of the humidity, to 16 percent, and bringing the cabin’s pressure closer to what it feels like on the ground. Planes are normally pressurized to 8,000 feet, higher than any point on the East Coast. Air inside the 787 is made to feel the equivalent of 6,000, slightly higher than Denver. The pressure and humidity changes should lead to fewer headaches and leave passengers with more energy after long trips.

The short flight also didn’t provide for a test of the full impact of LED lights that slowly change color, another feature designed to fight fatigue. The impact was felt when the cabin lit up in a funky rainbow display, turning the plane into something out of “Saturday Night Fever.’’ Add some loud music and it’s not too hard to imagine a bachelor or bachelorette party at 40,000 feet.

The lighting concept is being rolled out on other aircraft, including new models of the narrow-body 737. European aircraft maker Airbus also offers something similar on new A320s.

Another feature a passenger should notice on the 787 is the windows. The plane’s strong carbon-fiber frame, which allows for the humidity and pressure improvements, enables windows 30 percent larger than those on traditional aluminum-body planes.