Boeing 787 Dreamliner - not every Boeing is a dream

Two month ago, I had the chance to fly with Boeing´s newest aircraft, the 787, the so called "Dreamliner". Just delivered last September with a three year delay.

© By Spaceaero2 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons, original file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAll_Nippon_Airways_Boeing_787-8_Dreamliner_JA801A_OKJ.jpg

Boeing 787 Dreamliner in All Nippon Airways design

I booked a flight from Bangkok to Frankfurt and Air India is operating between Delhi and Frankfurt with Boeing´s new flagship. At least until mid-January.

Navigation-onboard-system

What happened? On January, 16. an ANA flight (All Nippon Airways, Japan) made an emergency landing after the system showed a problem with unleak batteries in the cockpit. Some medias reported of a smoke in the cabine too.

Safety manual of a Air India Boeing 787-8

Because of this incident in Japan, ANA and Japan Airlines grounded all 787 and took them out of the flight schedules.

 

787 in Delhi

These and other incidents with fire on landing 787´s in Boston was the trigger for the FAA to ground Boeing´s flagship in the US.

After Boeing lost their start license in their own country, other countries like Chile, Europe and India followed the FAA and grounded the left 787 too.

All 50 delivered planes are grounded and the problem is still unsolved.

Back to my first flight from Asia to Europe during day time. This was my second flight with Air India. My first one was from Bangkok to Delhi the same day.

Is Boeing´s dreamliner a dream or a nightmare? I´ll tell you my impressions about this flight:

It is not that impressive as other airplanes like the 747 (Jumbo) or the A-380 from the competitor Airbus. But there is one thing which is totally different to other aircrafts. The shape of the aero dynamic wings is new. Of course, every new model has special designed ones, but this ones are very slim  and the wingtips reaching far to the back.

New aero dynamic wings

Smog above New Delhi

This means, if you like to take pictures out of the window, you have either the wing on the picture, or you need to take the picture in an angle to the back. The good thing at the windows is, they are much bigger than regular (48x28cm).

There exits an amazing website about train travelling worldwide, it´s called "The man in seat 61". May be you read about it? Whenever he is travelling by train, he is booking seat 61.

In opposite to him, I am the guy in row 31. I prefer to sit in the last row of a plane. Not only because of the safety. But it is the safest place in the plane. I like to have a good view out of the window, without any wing in the pictures I take.

In case you want to sit in the last row of a dreamliner and you´re looking forward to take pictures from this row, I have to disappoint you. The 787 is different. 

Thin armrest and plenty of space around this last row with only 2 seats.

The last row in Air India´s 787 offering only two seats and the seats are aligned at the aisle. That means there is a big gap between the seat and the window!

Economy class with 3-3-3 seats at each row except the last one.

It is not only a desaster to take some pictures during start and landing (yes, I know what you wanna toss in...). It is  difficult to take pictures during the flight too. There is only a chance to sit on the armrest. But this one at the 787 looks not that solid and is very uncomfortable.

The good thing is: There is plenty of space :)

Business class

On the first view the interieur looks not that spectacular. Plenty of plastic. Everything looks like there is only one aim: Build the plane as light as possible. That´s why some parts looking a kind of "cheesy".

Typically for Air India, the style of the seats is colorful in orange and red.  The backrest itself is a very thin part and only clipped on the seat itself. The armrest looks and feels like the whole seat: A big part of plastic. Putting my arms on the rest for a longer time didn´t make me feel well. It starts hurting.

Seat in a Air India 787. In the background the magic windows.

The illumination is fantastic for reading. There are adjustable and very bright LED-spots in the ceiling.

Blue is the dominating color of the illumination. 

Beside the bride lightning-system is a great air-supply-system which offers perfect ventilation.

In difference to other airplanes is the cabine pressure 10% less than in other aircrafts. I felt very well and the humidity with 15% was fine for me too.

Most interesting during a long distance flight, the  entertainment-system:
Plenty of movies in different languages, numerous games and a big variety of music rounds up the selection. You will have an entertaining flight.

Entertainment-system at the 787. Get in touch with local music and movies, made in India.

 

Remote control for the entertainment-system

Connect your own earplugs or the provided ones.

Provided headphones

The navigation-system offers plenty of informations and different maps, unfortunatelly Air India didn´t invest in a camera outside.

Plenty of different maps with the current location during the flight.

Map with the night and day phase, awesome.

There are also Lightweigted material everywhere.

The blue lighted restrooms are amazing and spacious. 

Whether you like the entertaining-system, reading a book or taking a nap, you will love the magical windows of the 787 Dreamliner.

The magic windows of the 787 are 65% larger than at other airplanes.

No more pull-down plastic shades, a larger window space and a build-in dimming function. You are able to adjust the amount of light getting threw the window. It looks fantastic!

Magical window. 

You can adjust seven steps by your own.

It looks amazing, a colorful blue and turquoise filter absorbs the light. No more reflections on the screen. And may be this color powers your immune system too and you´re feeling better. In some religions this color is taken for the relieved soul.

When I fly, I like to watch the sky and the continents during a flight. I love to take pictures and so I don´t want to dim the window-system.

View through the undimmed window

And here was the only annoyance during the flight. It is possible to adjust the dimming-function individual. But this depends on the adjustment of the cabine-control-system. If it is programmed on section-mode or cabine-mode, there is no indivdual-mode working. You won´t be able to control the intensity of darkness by yourself.

Mountains in Afghanistan

During this flight I had the impression, that the crew, espacially the middleaged chief of the them, has no idea how to configure the window-system. So I tried to show him at the cabine-control-system, how he could adjust the individual-mode for the windows.

Above the snow covered mountains of Afghanistan (dimmed window)

Unfortunately he hadn´t the technical comprehension. He always configured the group-mode.

I know this is a very new airplane and for this reason it is new for the crew as well. Hopefully Air India will invest a better training for their crews working on such an airplane like the 787 in the future.


After two flights with Air India I am bit disappointed. The kindness wasn´t what I expected from an Asian Airline. Only one guy was really friendly. I´m willing to admit this is my subjective opinion. They are only humans. A bad day or something else can make them feeling not well. But I could feel big tensions between the crew-members and this was not only a subjective feeling. They had power games in front of the passengers.

Overall, the food, snacks and beverages were enough and not bad.  

Snacks and drinks, Air India.

Lunch, Air India 787. Yes, correct! A cutlery made of steel.

The dreamliner is already overweighted and Boeing is searching for less start weight. Wyh is Air India using cutlery made of steel? And why is it not clean?

On balance it was an average service. I don´t complain, because this wasn´t important for me. I booked the cheapest flight I could find this time.

My priority is the safety and to arrive on-time. Both worked perfect for me.

In total I felt very well during this flight apart from the window issue.

After 14 months travelling around South-East-Asia, touchdown in Frankfurt.

Back in good old Germany.

Boeing asked the Federal Aviation Administration FAA for permission to conduct test fligths on their 787 Dremaliners yesterday.

This news sounds like a progress solving the issues. I hope Boeing will fix the 787-problems soon, that the dreamliner will not longer be a dream in the air.

Back in the old world

Dear friends,


this is for all my friends living in South-East-Asia and everybody I met in this area during my incredible trip.

There are just a few days till Christmas and I finished my trip after 436 days. I spent more than one year traveling in an area located from the 96th till the 177th longitude east and from the 22nd latitude north until the 37 latitude south. I crossed several times the Equator in this part of the world.

I completed travelling and visiting all eleven countries of South-East-Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Brunei - During my first journey in 2010 I travelled already in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore, which I visited partially again). I spent two month in Australia, two weeks in Fiji-Island and some weeks in Hong Kong and Macau.

I discovered not only new countries on earth, I explored the underwater world at the world best diving spots. I started diving at the Great Barrier Reef and the last dive was at Sipadan Island.

The world most unique dive site in Borneo.

  

It was a chance to join the unique Phuket Vegetarian festival.

Thailand`s North offers a wide variety of wonderful temples. For example Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai, or Wat Rong Khun. 

The black temple in Chiang Rai.

Driving around the the coastline and exploring Bali by motobike with Alexander. Swimming in the sea with wild dolphins.

To see them in wildlife was one of my biggest dreams. 

Komodo National Park in Flores, Indonesia.

A sunrise at Mt. Kelimutu and the crater lakes in Flores.

West-Timor, part of Indonesia. A wonderful spot, touristy untouched with enormous capability and next to Timor-Leste.

The President changed. Let´s see how long it takes until the UN is leaving and the citizen will climb the first step for having a better life. 

Another untouched jewel in SE-Asia. 

Terra Australia (lat. land in the South) a continent with awesome landscapes, fantastic wildlife, nice people, a history, even if this is young and endless possibilities for exploring the country and having a good time.

Fiji Islands, totally contrary than my expectation. Not anymore my dream destination. I don´t like rain, floodings, mosquitos and typhoons. This was one of two possibilites to head for the airport. The other choice was by helicopter.

You are really looking for the untouched jewel? Take a look at Myanmar, my favorite country number one in SE-Asia. It is really untouched, sometimes it looks like the time stood still the last 80 years. The people are totally friendly,  the food is delecious, espacially the Shan-food in the East part of Myanmar. 

Get up early in the morning was the slogan to catch a picture of the monks when they get the offerings in the streets of Luang Prabang in Laos.

Hanoi, a crowded and chaotic city in the North of Vietnam - I love it. The picture shows the bridge over Song Hong River.

 

Fascinating rock formations in Halong Bay.

Tam-Coc, near the old capital.

My Son (Khmer Heritage)

At the red sand dunes with Guus in Mui Ne. 

To be unprejudiced is sometimes good, but to be totally unprepared could end without seeing unique spots. I was lucky to meet Scheherazade in Hanoi who showed me pictures of this extraordinary location. Thank you so much. Otherwise I would have skipped that.

Unfortunately our Jeep broke down, so we didn´t see a sunset at the red sand dunes. However, who expected white and red sand dunes in Vietnam? 

The white sand dunes in Vietnam.

What a reunion with Jo on Perhentian Islands. 

First time that I saw such a big turtle alive.

Amazing nature and yummy strawberries in the mountains of Cameron Highlands. Hadn´t expected such a beautiful region with an European like climate in Malaysia.

Borneo or not? This is not anymore a question for me. Borneo, espacially Sarawak is a "must-see" if you like great landscapes, real nature, caves, National Parks, Orang Utans, mountains and diving. Especially diving in Sabah.

Brunei with its big mosques, a beautiful architecture.

Perak, another state of Malaysia with some nice sites where I joined Aleah.  

And Kuala Lumpur is always a visit worth it.

Hong Kong another city which I would like to live, but too expensive. 

I was surprised to find "more" than a city. 

Don´t miss hiking and explore the green islands.

Macau, the Mandarin-speaking dominated Chinese community 

with all the glittering and sparkling Casinos.

I thought I saw already big poverty across SE-Asia, but in the Philippines I was shocked. I can´t tell you what I had been touched more, the highest poverty I ever saw, or that many people wearing weapons.

The people are really friendly. It is a pity that they have big trouble with typhoons six months a year. The country offers plenty of nice spots. Unfortunately the transport takes a lot of time. It is definitely a visit worth it and don´t miss to swim with whale sharks in Oslob.

And finally I joined many festivals in Thailand.

The Royal Barge Procession in Bangko.

The elephant round-up in Surin with nearly 200 elephants.

The Yee Peng festival in Chiang Mai.

Loi Krathong in Sukhothai 

And I overstayed my Visa for watching the King on his birthday........and I was lucky to see him directly in front of me. (not on this picture and not in TV)

I had a wonderful time during this trip and have still plenty of stories to write about it.

When I headed back for Germany I was welcomed in an amazing winter landscape but with icier and freezing temperatures which reminds me at "Snow white and the Huntsman". I am happy that I bought some boots in Bangkok before departure.

After my 15 hour flight there was a difference in temperature between Bangkok and Frankfurt of 40 degrees and don't ask how much cooler it felt because of the breeze on the platform during waiting for the train. Here were -7 degrees and the temperature scale felt down untill -15 the following nights.

In counterpart to SE-Asia we are using real christmas trees and you can smell the running resin. In every bigger city is a Christmas market where you can heat up your body from inside to protect you from this frosty temperatures. Did you ever try "Glühwein" or a hot Punch? There are plenty offers with delicious ingredients, also without alcohol.

A nice side effect during this cold periode are the amazing sceneries at the sky when the sun starts rising up. 

Morning sky

I am also happy to get off the tiny little blood suckers ;) But it doesn't mean we have no mosquitos in summer time.

Btw when I first talked to women after my return I always stared at their nose during the conversation. I never realized that noses of women in Germany are nearly that big than mine.....lol....I am scared......same same, but different. And Europeans are looking old in compare to Asian people, but that wasn't new.

I am currently staying in a small village in the South of Germany. Here are not that much and convenient coffee shops with Internet. But there is an McDonalds around the corner and when I asked for their Free Wifi the waitress looked at me like a cow when you only ask her to give milk instead of milking her. A face full of question marks. I am sure she thought something like "What the hell does is this guy asking for?" Seconds were running and feeling like minutes and we looked at each others eyes. Finally she found her speech again and asked if I meant "WLAN"? Of course, I meant this. I forgot already several times that I am back in Germany and people are talking German. And here we call "Wifi" "WLAN".....Different country, different expressions.....

In the meanwhile I am using Internet via a mobile stick and I am happy to have Internet again.

To be back in Germany is not bad, to be back during winter time is a different thing, but to be in the middle of nowhere and to have no way to google for some timetables or whatever is more worse for me than having no facebook for a few days.

What I miss most is the light food and that I can buy it everywhere on the street. Another thing I really miss are smiling people. Why are Germans not smiling that much? Are they all depressive or unfriendly? May be it depends on the short daylight in winter times, coz in summer time you can see more smiling people. Do you beleive, it is getting bride around 7.30-8am and the nightfall - not skyfall ;) - starts between 4.30 and 5.30pm. And when I say dark, I mean definitely dark. At best we have only 10 hours daylight right now, no miracle that people getting depressed....... ;)

And I miss the smile of asian people and the lightness of being........the heat and the friendlyness of the people. And i miss the cheap prices to kommute around the area for a reasonable price and not overpriced tickets like mine for traveling by train for 43€ without having a seat, because of an overfilled train. 43€ for 3 hours traveling, changing twice the train and waiting freezing on the plattform for the next train, unbelieveable......Now I am sure, I am back in Germany.




I miss South-East-Asia and the way of traveling there!!!




But there are things I don't miss and two of them are the horrable noise and the extreme air pollution.We have air-pollution as well, but you can't see it. Sometimes you can smell the dirty air, but not like the blanket of smog.

Delhi

And it is very silent here in this area. The most noisy thing is when the ambulance is racing with blue light in case of emergency and when the rescue helicopter is landing at the hospital nearby.

It is a good feeling to be back in Germany, in familiar environment even if I miss SE-Asia and all you guys, which I met during my incredible and amazing journey. But for sure, this was not my last trip, in opposite the hunger and the curiosity is provoked.

Thanks to everybody of you for sharing time with me, offering a great hospitality and let me have a fantastic time. I am looking forward to meet everybody again...."varekai" and somewhen on this wonderful blue planet.



Merry christmas and happy new year to you and your families.

Cheers and take care!

Dieter