With more than 10,000 flight hours in his 30-year career, Ted Grady, 777X chief pilot, recalls what sparked his passion for aviation as a kid.
Grady became a pilot by joining the U.S. Air Force, embarking on a career that encompasses military service and missions, commercial operations and Boeing flight testing. Today, Grady leads the team conducting rigorous flight testing on Boeing’s newest widebody airplanes, the 777X.
Q: What airplanes have you flown?
A: I started out in the military flying cargo airplanes like the C-17 Globemaster. As an airline pilot, I flew four airplanes: the 727, DC-10, DC-9 and 757. At Boeing, I’ve flown the 737, 747, 777 and 787. Obviously, the 777 is my favorite.
Q: Why does Boeing conduct test flights?
A: We gather data for specific reasons: to validate the design, to show compliance and show the airplane is safe. We can also apply that to the next airplane. For example, the flight control laws developed for the 787 have been implemented on the 777-9, tuned to this body size. The work we do benefits the next generation of great airplanes.
Q: What are your favorite tests to fly?
A: I enjoy testing like crosswinds, where we exercise the airplane beyond the limits operators will be applying for themselves.
Q: What role do airline pilots play in development?
A: We work with airline pilots extensively; that’s a great part of the job. From early on in our development program we brought them in for design decisions, and they’re essential to our human factors certification.
Q: What should I look forward to on my first 777-9 flight?
A: Passengers will find it a really nice experience with the lower cabin altitude and smooth ride. I think pilots will love the airplane and its handling qualities. Even though I’ve been flying this airplane for years, I’m still surprised at how big it is – it’s impressively nimble.
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