SWA and CAL B737s...why the six pack on the NGs?

[Tripower455]

We at AA regularly switch between "Flat Panel" 757/767s (the newly installed PFD/ND displays with tapes) and the classic 2-EFIS tube round dial 75/76s. Not too big of a deal, but that's just me...

We do it at SW too, only our "classics" don't have any EFIS tubes at all.

 

[BillJBrake]

Good info guys, thanks.

Until I looked it up before posting this, I'd thought SWA was the only 6pack-Glass operator, CAL surprised me. I wonder if they'll go to PFD/ND when they get rid of their -500s.


aa73 - I'm not quite sure what you're referring too. In all the pictures I've seen of the B757 and B767s cockpits of AA planes, they have an EFIS style display on top with ND below. I also haven't seen any round-dial displays on any of the American birds. For reference, this is what I'm referring to at SWA/CAL



EDIT:

aa73, is this the difference you're referring to?

old school

vs

new school?

 

[aa73]

Hi Bill, here are the new displays:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...1899EDFA3CBDD128DE8B4182B2FAB2DFB5435&first=0

Closeup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyforfun/4931982675/

In addition to the above Flat Panels and the "Old School" displays, we also have a hybrid-type Old School 2 tube EFIS but with Pegasus FMC, which gives us a Speed Tape on the left side of the PFD in addition to already having the round dial airspeed indicator.

 

[BillJBrake]

Hi Bill, here are the new displays:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...1899EDFA3CBDD128DE8B4182B2FAB2DFB5435&first=0

Closeup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyforfun/4931982675/

In addition to the above Flat Panels and the "Old School" displays, we also have a hybrid-type Old School 2 tube EFIS but with Pegasus FMC, which gives us a Speed Tape on the left side of the PFD in addition to already having the round dial airspeed indicator.

Thanks, those look pretty slick. Are they putting them on the entire 75/76 fleet?

 

[aa73]

All of the 767-300s are supposed to get them, and only about half of the 757s will get them. However the fleet plan continues to change, so who knows. I just read that AA plans to retire half of the 767-300s in a few years.

Currently there are 70 aircraft that have the retrofit. AA has 59 767-300s and 124 757s.

As far as quality, it is definitely the lowest priced retrofit out there. Screens do not talk to the FMC, so we still have to manually input the takeoff and landing speeds. The PFD display is really small. It's a step up from the classic 2-tube EFIS but they could have spent a lot more $$$ on a better product.