Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
On Oct. 26 ANA was the first airline to take to the sky with Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner. What is it about this aircraft that have many experts calling it a revolutionary game changer for the airline industry. Why has it taken so long to get it into the air? Today on Down to Business English we answer these questions and more.
Dez: This is Dez Morgan here reporting from Abu Dhabi UAE
Skip: And I’m Skip Montreux in Tokyo Japan.
Dez: And you’re listening to Down to Business English.
Dez: Welcome back to Down to Business English everyone. The program that talks about current business news making headlines around the world.
Skip: If you use English in your business life, or are a student who hopes to use English in your career, this is the show to listen to.
Dez: So Skip, how have you been?
Skip: I’m doing well thank you. The only real concerns I have at the moment are about the above average radiation readings that are popping up all over the place around the Tokyo area.
Dez: Is that right? That does sound worrying.
Skip: Yes it is. And what is even more confusing is the Japanese government saying that it is not conclusive that this radiation is actually coming from the nuclear crisis in Fukushima.
Dez: Really?! Where else could it be coming from?
Skip: Media reports say that some of it could be coming from radium used in paint production and could have been lying around for years. It’s only being noticed now because citizens are being more proactive monitoring radiation levels.
Dez: That really does not sound good. People must be quite anxious.
Skip: Yes, everyone is. Sales and rentals of Geiger counters are going through the roof as no one completely trusts the information coming from the government.
Dez: That’s terrible. But I’m sure that the government doesn’t want to panic people unnecessarily.
Skip: And I can understand that. But there is a difference between reporting accurate information and hiding the facts. Anyway, it’s not all doom and gloom coming out of Japan. In fact, just recently a milestone event took place that has a strong connection to Japan.
Dez: And what event was that?
Skip: It was the maiden passenger flight of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Dez: Oh that’s right. The Dreamliner had its very first flight recently didn’t it? It has been touted by Boeing as being a complete game changer for the Airline industry. And what exactly is the connection between the Dreamliner and Japan?
Skip: Well the first airline to put the Dreamliner into service is ANA, All Nippon Airlines, and on Oct 26, they carried their first passengers from Tokyo’s Narita Airport to Hong Kong.
Dez: Congratulations to Boeing and ANA. But the story of Boeing’s Dreamliner 787 has been full of setbacks and delays. Wasn’t it supposed to have gone into service a couple of years ago?
Skip: That’s right. It was initially scheduled to go into service way back in August of 2007 actually. But production setbacks postponed it a full 3 years.
Dez: Well, better late than never?
Skip: Maybe. Today on Down to Business English we will be reporting on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We will look at what makes it different from the competition, how it may revolutionize the air travel industry, and what challenges Boeing faces to make the project profitable.
Dez: Great. Let’s do it. Let’s get D2B…Down to Business with the Dreamliner, the future of air travel?
continue reading…
