Boeing Delivers EL AL Israel Airlines' First Next-Generation 737-900ER

By BA Staff

Boeing has delivered to El Al Israel Airlines the carrier's first Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane.

The delivery is the first of six 737-900ERs the Israeli flag-carrier has on order and is the latest addition to El Al's all-Boeing fleet.  

Elyezer Shkedy, president and chief executive officer, El Al, said:

"The purchase of the Boeing 737-900ER aircraft marks the high point of El Al's re-equipping and fleet renewal impetus. This positions El Al at the forefront of international aviation technology, further elevating El Al's in-flight experience. Our investment in the new modern Economy Class seats and in a sophisticated entertainment system, that will be launched in the coming months, is in line with the target we set for ourselves - to provide the best product and most advanced service for passengers and thus retain El Al's status as the most preferred airline for flights to and from Israel. We would like to thank Boeing and all the other partners for their outstanding work on El Al's six new aircraft."

The Boeing 737-900ER is the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 airplane family. It has the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost of Boeing's single-aisle family and will fit perfectly into El Al's existing short and medium-haul fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s. El Al's latest addition to its fleet will seat 172 passengers, with all passengers able to enjoy the option of power sockets for their laptops and USB connections. The Israeli-flag carrier operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747-400s, 767s and 777s and serves 30 destinations worldwide.   

El Al's 737-900ER will be its first airplane to feature the new Boeing Sky Interior. This interior is the latest in a series of enhancements for both airlines and passengers. It introduces new LED lighting and curved architecture that welcomes passengers onboard and creates a greater sense of spaciousness and comfort in the cabin. The interior also features modern, sculpted sidewalls and overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling, yet carry more bags.
  
Todd Nelp, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

 Europe, while offering its passengers the superior passenger comfort of the Boeing Sky Interior. We share a proud history with El Al, and are honored to once again play a significant role in this all-Boeing carrier's fleet renewal. El Al has already experienced the excellent reliability and operating economics of the Next-Generation 737 family with its fleet of 737-700s and 737-800s. The 737-900ER will enable El Al to greatly expand its operations across.

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Is India relying to heavily on the Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI to counter China?

Defence minister A.K. Antony informed the Rajya Sabha that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is extremely happy with its front line air superiority fight, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and will increase its fleet to 230 aircraft by 2015, notwithstanding the recent crash of one.

China has been increasing it's belligerence over the north eastern state of Arunachal Pradhesh and has a significant ground force superiority over India in the region. It is aided by two friendly governments -- the military junta in Yangon (Burma) and the Maoists in Nepal, leaving the entire and vital eastern half of India vulnerable.

To counter this increasing threat, in June, the Indian Air Force located a squadron of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI at the Tezpur air force base in Assam. Read a related article.

Tezpur is located near Arunachal Pradesh and is less than 350 km from the last army post at Bumla on the imaginary McMohan Line that divides India and China. Tezpur is also the headquarters of the 4th Corps of the army, which would shortly have two mountain division deployed in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese army air base closest to India is in the Chengdu military region, which borders India, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam, and is home to two fighter divisions.

But, is India and the IAF putting to much faith in the Su-30MKI ?

At the 2008 Red Flag exercises, the US Air Force analysed the remarkable fighter. The video below shows some remarkable comparisons. While there is no doubt on the strengths, it also reveals some startling weaknesses -- for example, the Saturn NPO Al-31FP engines on the Su-30MKI are very prone to FOD (foreign object damage) which requires a one minute separation between take-offs. One minute in a combat situation is eternity. Also Russia demands that India return all damaged engines to them for repairs, and only after the engine reaches them will they send a replacement. Surely this will cause a tremendous supply chain crunch in the face of any hostilities. The USAF officer also refers to the second video which compares the F-22 Raptor with Sukhoi Su-30MKI in similar manoeuvres.




Not to say that it is all bad. There is no doubt that the Su-30MKI is a formidable aircraft and it's remarkable capabilities coupled with the abilities of fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force who are counted way up there with their US and Israeli counterparts amongst the best of the best, are a potent combination.

Su-30MKI (image courtesy Wikipedia)

It is also important to remember the Su-30MKI is an air superiority fighter i.e. intended to defeat enemy aircraft in the air and seize control of enemy airspace. The F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor are probably the finest examples of air superiority fighters of their generation with the Su-30MKI being in between the two. While the Su-30MKI can also perform some multi-role activities including ground strikes, it is wasted in this role. India has to remain committed to the MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) procurement time-table and sign the contracts within the 2010-2011 fiscal year as currently planned. The Israeli Phalcon equipped IL-76 AWACS procurement too must be continued on schedule or improved.

IL-76 A-50 AWACS. Image Wikipedia
What is your opinion? Do post a comment.

On this topic, I read a book by Humphrey Hawksley, the former BBC correspondent with extensive experience in China and South Asia titled Dragon Fire. While a work of fiction, Dragon Fire is extensively based on facts, and tells the story of a three-sided war -- India versus China and Pakistan. Very interesting reading.

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