Boeing is considering the introduction of a new cockpit on the recently launched 767-400ER, in a move which could result in existing versions of the 767, the 757 and, eventually, the 747-400, being updated.
Air Transport Intelligence, the new Reed Aerospace on-line news service, says that a decision on whether to go ahead with the new cockpit is expected this year. Approval of the scheme could herald the use of a common flightdeck across the Boeing range, allowing the company to offer a similar degree of cockpit (but not control systems) commonality to that offered by Airbus with its fly-by-wire models.
The avionics being considered for the 767-400ER are the same as those on the 777 and Next Generation 737 ranges, with the avionics suite based on six Honeywell flat-screen liquid-crystal-display (LCD) primary flight displays.
Boeing has already held meetings with US carriers such as Continental Airlines and Delta, which are buying large numbers of the 767 variant and the Next Generation 737. A bigger meeting of airlines is planned to be held in Seattle this month, after which Boeing will make a final decision on whether to go ahead.
Boeing confirms that it is "-studying the possibility of incorporating a new flightdeck in the 767-400ER. The work will be concluded in the fourth quarter of this year." On the question of the upgrade being applied to other versions of the 767 and 757 family, the company says: "Those aren't necessarily natural progressions."
Source: Flight International
