Proving Flights

[DElliott]

With Qantas announcing several new routes that may open up with the arrival of their 787 aircraft - how does an airline go about preparing for these flights e.g proving flight. Is this done using an actual aircraft with real crew / weight to simulate passengers and baggage / when to serve meals etc etc, and how many flights are done before actual revenue flights begin ? It seems all talk at the moment , but has anyone flown a 787 Perth non stop to London or Sydney to Chicago ? Curious !

 

[NZflygirl]

When NZ received their 789s they flew TT routes for their proving flights before rostering it full time on the AKL-PER route. It wasn't rostered onto the TT routes it just subbed in I guess where it suited. Nice surprise for pax.