DoD Buzz: Boeing Mum On Glass Cockpit (for new tanker)

[unhappycamper]

Boeing Mum On Glass Cockpit
It’s a major addition to Boeing’s entry in the tanker competition — perhaps the biggest change — but Boeing is keeping information about the glass cockpit very close to its chest.

One source tells us categorically that Boeing did not include the cockpit in its bid. We pressed Boeing spokesmen on the issue and they referred us to the July 9 press statement announcing their bid. It says their new tanker includes “a digital flight deck featuring Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic displays and a cockpit-design philosophy that places the pilot in command rather than allowing computer software to limit combat maneuverability.”

DoD Buzz filmed the cockpit of the new 787 here at Farnborough and we spoke with Boeing officials about the cockpit. It is clearly a highly sensitive issue for them as they have proven deeply reluctant to discuss any details of the cockpit, especially the risks — or lack thereof– of integrating the new systems on the 767. It is, they aver, competition sensitive.

One Boeing source pointed us to the press release and said, “that’s as far as we will go.”

The key issue seems to be whether the cockpit will be shifted to the new tanker in toto or whether some “displays” will come from the 787 Dreamliner.



unhappycamper comment: Interesting discussion at end of thread.