Boeing selects Crane for real time weight and balance system for 777 Freighter

Crane Aerospace & Electronics was selected by The Boeing Company to supply an onboard weight and balance system for the 777 Freighter. Crane's weight and balance technology is a real-time system called AirWeighsTM.

The AirWeighs Real-Time Weight and Balance System is designed to provide significant improvements in reliability, maintainability and accuracy. In addition, the system can be used to quickly validate manual weight calculations - which are based on external data - with highly accurate, real-time on-board measurement. A primary advantage of AirWeighs is that it does not require periodic calibration.

Greg Ward, Aerospace Group President of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, stated "This is a significant application of our new Weight and Balance technology because of the advantages it offers freighter operations. We are pleased to have been selected by Boeing and are convinced that commercial aircraft can be made safer and more efficient through application of this technology."

According to Boeing, the new 777 Freighter will bring unmatched efficiency to long-haul cargo operations, providing more capacity and flying farther than any other twin-engine freighter. The 777 Freighter, currently in development, is based on the technologically advanced 777-200LR Worldliner (Longer Range) passenger model and is scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2008.