Aircraft Asset Assessment: B777-200ER

Market Presence. As an all-new aircraft, Boeing had the opportunity to employ the latest technology. Though the company opted not to employ full fly by wire as adopted by Airbus, the use of LCD screens in the B777 cockpit was only subsequently incorporated by Boeings European competitor, demonstrating that Airbus may not always be the technological leader. The ability to extract ever higher thrust ratings from two engines played a pivotal role in allowing the B777 to be used on long haul routes where it excels. The B777-200ER features a wide range of operating weights, greatly influencing the payload/range capability of the type. Some operators may even seek to operate the type at a weight lower than the minimum offered by Boeing as a means of retaining fleet commonality. A low MTOW for the –200ER will usually suggest use on a relatively short sector. Short sectors may result in a higher number of cycles compared to higher gross weight examples. Over time, significantly higher accumulated cycles will result in a discounting far greater than the cost of upgrading the MTOW at later date. All three engine manufacturers are represented on the -200ER in reasonable proportions but both Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce are likely to feel aggrieved that GE has managed to obtain an exclusivity agreement with Boeing on the B777-200LR and B777-300ER.