Flight Deck and Airplane Systems
In response to airline preference, the layout of the 777 flight deck is in a horizontal format similar to that of the 747-400. Features include the following:
- Principal flight, navigation and engine information is presented on six large display screens incorporating advanced liquid-crystal display technology.
- The new displays save space, weigh less, require less power and generate less heat, which contributes to greater reliability and a longer service life.
- The flat panel displays remain clearly visible in all conditions, even direct sunlight.
- Three multipurpose control display units (CDU) provide data display and entry capabilities for flight management functions. These units are the primary interface with an integrated Airplane Information Management System (AIMS). The CDUs have color displays, again in response to market preferences. Adding color allows pilots to assimilate the information more quickly.
Integrated Airplane Information Management System (AIMS) provides flight and maintenance crews all pertinent information concerning the overall condition of the airplane, its maintenance requirements and its key operating functions, including flight, thrust and communications management.
A three-axis "fly-by-wire" flight control system saves weight, simplifies factory assembly compared to conventional mechanical systems relying on steel cables, and requires fewer spares and less maintenance in airline service.
A Boeing-patented two-way digital data bus, ARINC 629, has been adopted as a new industry standard. It permits airplane systems and associated computers to communicate with one another through a common wire path (a twisted pair of wires) instead of through separate one-way wire connections. This further simplifies assembly and saves weight, while increasing reliability through a reduction in the amount of wires and connectors. There are 11 of these ARINC 629 pathways in the 777.
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) is standard equipment. The EGPWS displays potentially threatening terrain and gives an audible alert up to a minute in advance of possible terrain conflict, compared with 10 to 15 seconds for previous systems. It incorporates a proprietary digital terrain map, which it continuously compares to airplane position data from the navigation system.
A feature unique to the 777-300ER and 777-300 flight deck is the Ground Maneuver Camera System (GMCS), designed to assist the pilot in ground maneuvering of the 777-300 with camera views of the nose gear and main gear areas. The cameras are on the leading edge of the left and right horizontal stabilizers and the underside of the fuselage and are used during ground maneuvering. The images are displayed at the Multi-Functional Display positions in the flight deck in a three-way split format.
Landing Gear
The 777's landing gear is the largest ever incorporated into a commercial airplane.
The main landing gear for the 777 is in a standard two-post arrangement but features six-wheel trucks instead of the conventional four-wheel units.
This provides the main landing gear with a total of 12 wheels for better weight distribution on runways and taxi areas.
The Longer-range 777s share a new and improved gear. Because of its longer length, the 777-300ER uses a new semi-levered gear, which allows it to take off from fields with limited runway length.