Airbus and Boeing Flight Decks: A Tale of Two Philosophies

The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are two of the most advanced commercial aircraft in the world, with cutting-edge technology and design features. However, their flight decks are a testament to the different design philosophies of their manufacturers.

Airbus and Boeing have always had distinct approaches to designing their flight decks. While neither design is safer than the other, pilots have their preferences. The Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 are contemporaries, with the 787 entering service in 2011 and the A350 in 2015.

## The Design Philosophy of Airbus and Boeing

Airbus has traditionally taken a more digital approach to its flight decks, introducing a digital fly-by-wire system with the A320. This allowed the manufacturer to clean up the cockpit and provide pilots with a full view of the displays. In contrast, Boeing has maintained a more traditional flying experience, with a yoke and a more mechanical feel.

The Airbus A350 features a sidestick, which is a retractable tray table along with two retractable footrests. This design provides pilots with a more streamlined cockpit and a reduced workload. In contrast, the Boeing 787 has a yoke, which is large and intrusive. Pilots may find it more difficult to find comfortable seating positions in the 787.

## Flight Controls in the 787

One of the key differences between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 is the way their flight controls work. In the 787, the controls move on their own when the autopilot and autothrottles are engaged. This is because the Boeing 787 does not have physical connections between the engines and throttles, or the flight controls and the yoke.

In contrast, the Airbus A350 has a digital fly-by-wire system, where neither the sidestick nor the thrust levers move when the autopilot/autothrust systems are engaged. This design prioritizes flight crew awareness, allowing both pilots to view control inputs in real-time.

## Fly-By-Wire Control: Boeing Versus Airbus

The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 both use fly-by-wire systems, but they work in different ways. The Airbus system has pilots commanding a G-load and pitch rate with the sidestick, rather than directly manipulating control surfaces. In contrast, the Boeing law adds an airspeed element, making the experience of flying a 787 or 777 more similar to a plane with mechanical controls.

## More Differences in Physical and Software Design

The Airbus 'Dark Cockpit' philosophy dictates that buttons and switches only illuminate when an abnormal condition is present. This can then be resolved, typically by pushing the illuminated button. In contrast, the Boeing 787 and other newer Boeing aircraft will illuminate switches or systems even if no immediate action is necessary.

The Airbus A350 features the standard Airbus ECAM (Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring) system, which provides corrective actions and confirms when actions have been performed. In contrast, the Boeing 787 features an EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System), which provides various aircraft systems information and alerts on any faults.

## Differences in Equipment on the Two Planes

While the design philosophies that created the flight decks of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are extremely different, they're both equally effective in allowing pilots to safely manage flights. The Airbus A350 is frequently thought of as being a high-tech aircraft, but the dual head-up displays present in promotional photos are, in fact, optional, and many airlines do not include them.

The Boeing 787, in contrast, is the only airliner to include dual HUDs as standard. The outer two displays on the A350 are dedicated to the Onboard Information System, which displays information available to pilots via their Electronic Flight Bag systems.

| Aircraft | Length | Wing Span | Height | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Airbus A350-900 | 72.8 m | 64.8 m | 5.83 m | | Boeing 787-10 | 65.9 m | 60.1 m | 6.2 m | | Airbus A350-1000 | 73.8 m | 64.8 m | 5.83 m | | Boeing 777-300ER | 73.9 m | 60.9 m | 5.87 m |

| Aircraft | Engines | Max Takeoff Weight | Range | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Airbus A350-900 | 2 x Engine Alliance GP7200 | 280,000 kg | 8,100 nmi | | Boeing 787-10 | 2 x General Electric GEnx-1B | 250,000 kg | 6,400 nmi | | Airbus A350-1000 | 2 x Engine Alliance GP7200 | 310,000 kg | 9,700 nmi | | Boeing 777-300ER | 2 x General Electric GE90-115B | 340,000 kg | 8,555 nmi |

The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are two of the most advanced commercial aircraft in the world, with cutting-edge technology and design features. While their flight decks are a testament to the different design philosophies of their manufacturers, they're both equally effective in allowing pilots to safely manage flights.