![]() ![]() Areas (holes) in the pedestal not used by a panel are covered over with a grey-coloured metal blank. Position of Panels in the Center Pedestalīoeing recommends a more or less standard position for the essential panels in the center pedestal (NAV, COM, ADF, ASP, rudder trim, door lock and panel flood), however, the location of the panels is often altered by the receiving airline, and is to a certain extent is determined by what other panels are installed to the pedestal. Therefore turn-around times are as brief as possible and keeping an aircraft on the ground while procuring the correct shade of Boeing grey does not enter the equation. Time spent in the hanger equates to a loss in revenue by the airline. This is not to mention that, depending on the manufacturer of the lightplate, the final coat of paint may be matt, semi-matt or gloss.įrom the perspective of an engineer, the colour (and to a certain extent aesthetic condition) is unimportant when replacing a defective part with another. Also high mounted position of rudder trim panel (click to enlarge).Īs an example, a lightplate I repaired from a B737-500 airframe revealed three differing shades of grey beneath the final top coat of paint. Note higher than standard position of ACP panels and relocated position of the door lock panel. This said, often an airline will 'touch up' a lightplate that is damaged or faded - this introduces a further colour variant. For example, IPECO use British Standard 381C-632 (dark admiralty grey) and Gables use RAL 7011. However, OEM part manufacturers may use slightly different colour hues. ![]() ![]() The official colour shade used by Boeing is Federal Standard 5956 36440 (light gull grey). I use the word 'panel' to denote an avionics module. Note that some of this information probably pertains more to older Next Generation 737s than to the latest airframe build released from Boeing. Furthermore, it's not uncommon to observe older style panels mixed with modern panels and to see lightplates that are illuminated by bulbs and LEDs side by side. Whilst it's true that all airlines must meet aviation standards for the type of operation they fly, the panel manufacturer and where in the pedestal the panel is located is at the discretion of the airline. Nevertheless, it's understandable why many believe all the panels are identical in all B737 airframes. (v) The aesthetic condition of the lightplate.Īlthough seemingly important to a cockpit builder, to the casual observe, or indeed to many pilots, these attributes are of little consequence. (iii) The backlighting of the lightplate (bulbs verses LEDs) (ii) The position of the panel in the center pedestal (i) The colour of the panel and lightplate All high-end simulators replicate these panels and enthusiasts often fixate on several issues. The center pedestal in the Boeing 737 accommodates a number of panels, several of which are standard for all commercial passenger airlines. Please consider sending a few dollars ( Thank You.) All funds donated will be used to offset the cost of server and website hosting. Maintaining this website costs a considerable sum of money each year. The definition of the acronym OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer ( aka real aicraft part). I use the words 'modules & panels' and 'CDU & FMC' interchangeably. Do not complain if you do not like what you read. All reviews and content are 'frank and fearless' - I tell it as I see it. Note: I have NO affiliation with ANY manufacturer or reseller. I hope there are not too many spelling and grammatical mistakes.Īrticles are updated from time to time as procedures and information change. Writing for a cross section of readers from differing cultures and languages with varying degrees of technical ability, can at times be challenging. The purpose of FLAPS-2-APPROACH is two-fold: To document the construction of a Boeing 737 flight simulator, and to act as a platform to share aviation-related articles pertaining to the Boeing 737 thereby, providing a source of inspiration and reference to like-minded individuals. ![]()
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