Making its debut at Farnborough Air Show, the latest addition to the Boeing 767 family, the -400ER (extended range) features a new interior based on the 777's design. The 767-400ER provides seating for 245 passengers in three classes and features aerodynamic improvements such as new raked wing tips, increased takeoff weight capability, new main landing gear, and a new upgraded flight deck.
The 777-style flight deck allows easier maintenance and provides operators with the flexibility of tailoring flight-deck equipment to their needs. A new instrument panel and avionics package consolidates 67 different flight deck parts into 20, simplifying maintenance and improving flight crew efficiency. Six large liquid-crystal displays on the instrument panel are arranged in the same manner as that of the 777 and Next-Generation 737, enabling pilots of all three models to receive similar information in a similar format. The company has also considered applying the 777-style flight deck on future 767-200 and -300 models by 2002, with retrofit kits being available for existing fleets at that time.
Because of its customers' reactions to the 767-400ER, the company is also planning a longer-range derivative called the -400ERX. This aircraft would be the same size as the 767-400ER, but have more range than the -300ER. Boeing believes that this aircraft could provide a good replacement for DC-10-30ER aircraft.
Boeing has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide Trent 600 engines for the 767-400ERX and is currently working on an agreement with the GE/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance for its GP7172 engines. Both engines fulfill the aircraft's requirements for thrust ratings up to 72,000 lb. These same engines are offered on the 747X family due to be in service in 2005.
Frank Bokulich
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Aerospace Engineering September 2000
