Qantas plans for first Project Sunrise test flight

Qantas has revealed new details of research plans for its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul commercial services initiative from Australia that includes a series of supporting test flights, the first of which is scheduled for later this month. Although the airline has not formally committed to launching the project’s new routes, which would link Sydney with nonstop flights to London and New York, the Australian carrier has outlined plans to conduct tests during deliveries of three new Boeing 787-9s over consecutive months starting in October. Meanwhile, Qantas is analyzing bids from Airbus and Boeing for specially modified variants of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X, respectively, and will make a decision by year-end. The first flight, scheduled around mid-month, will be from New York to Sydney, with the November test taking place on the London-Sydney route. The December test will also link New York and Sydney. Each of the non-revenue flights will take place after Qantas officially accepts the new aircraft from Boeing. The first priority for the research flights is better understanding of pilot and cabin crew fatigue, Qantas chief technical pilot Alex Passerini said. “The pilots signing up for doing those flights are going to have sleep diaries and will wear sensors to monitor vital signs such brain wave activity. We are going to have Airbus and Boeing fatigue experts on board who will be running through scenarios deep into the flight to look at crew response to certain tasks. The crew will also have to do urine samples for melatonin,” he added.<br/>