Ever wondered what it takes to get a jumbo jet off the ground British Airways has created an image of the enduring aircraft, using a jumbo variety of items from the aircraft to indicate the size of its operation.
From toilet rolls to teaspoons, British Airways loads thousands of individual items directly to each jumbo jet before it takes to the skies. With a combined weight of 6,120 kg, the items must be unloaded and re-loaded before every take-off.
On a common jumbo jet, right here items are loaded:
1,263 items of metal cutlery
1,291 items of china crockery
538 meal trays
735 glasses
650 paper cups
34 metal teapots
220 drinks stirrers
500 coasters
233 toothpicks
2,000 ice cubes
99 full bottles and 326 quarter bottles of wine
700 small cans of fizzy drinks
164 bags of nuts in Club World
337 cushions and pillows
337 sets of headphones
337 headrest covers
435 air sickness bags
58 toilet rolls
40 extension seatbelts for children
340 safety cards
337 copies of High Life magazine
40 skyflyer packs for children
5 first aid kits
Employees from around the airline came together to create the picture, which
was drawn directly to the ground of an aircraft hangar. Aspects of the photograph
include:
* Clouds – created using pillowcases, toilet roll, hand towels and napkins.
* Sky – created using Club World blankets and blue roll (kitchen roll.)
* Aircraft – created using pillowcases, cabin crew sleeping bags, First blankets, china, headrest covers, Skyflyer bags for youngsters and headrest covers.
* Aircraft windows – created using bags of nuts.
* Aircraft tailfin – the red parts are created using headset bags and extension seatbelts for kids.
* London Eye (London skyline) – created using a teapot, metal cutlery, china and socks.
* The Shard (London skyline) – created using tea and low bags.
* The Gherkin (London skyline) – created using First cushion covers and socks.
* Tower Bridge (London skyline) – created using First slippers and Club World washbags
* Big Ben’s Tower (London skyline) – created using air sickness bags, a plate and metal cutlery (clock face)
* Buildings (London skyline) – created using oven trays, glasses, safety cards, tongs and copies of High Life magazine.
Rod Green, British Airways’ head global supply chain said: “It’s an enormous job getting a jumbo in to the air, not to mention a fleet of 52 daily. There are teams around the airline working together one year a year with the intention that all 27,260 items are delivered on time and to the suitable place to make certain our customers benefit from the preferrred travel experience. Once we receive our new aircraft, the challenge would be even greater.”
It’s been 42 years for the reason that first British Airways (formerly BOAC) jumbo jet took to the skies and in July 2013 when it takes delivery of its first A380, the variety of items loaded directly to a plane increases by approximately 10,000 to cater for 2 full decks of consumers.
British Airways has 52 jumbo jet aircraft in its fleet.
A time-lapse video of the art coming together are available at: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=PTU_sOWgKho