For a glimpse into aviation’s future one need look no farther than Seattle Boeing Field, the home of a specially modified Boeing 737-900 outfitted with an array of experimental avionics and flight controls. For much of the spring Boeing has been inviting select groups of airline representatives aboard its technology demonstrator for flights to Moses Lake Airfield in Central Washington to showcase the cutting-edge systems.
The compendium of products installed aboard the new 737–in various stages of research, development and commercial deployment–is designed to meet the FAA’s goal of cutting accidents by 80 percent and squeezing more utilization out of crowded airspace and airports in the years ahead. Although much of what Boeing has in mind should help strengthen airline balance sheets as well, the technology applies broadly across all segments of aviation.
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