COLEGIO DE STA. ANA DE VICTORIAS, INC.

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MODULE 3
LEARNING MODULE
BLENDED FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Operations Management in Tourism and Hospitality Industry (OPEM 311)

Parts of an Airplane

Traveling on airplanes is a pretty normal practice these days, especially if you live in
the USA. Flying short distances is almost as common as jumping on a bus for some
people, particularly if they fly for business. But most people get on a plane knowing
next to nothing about how that plane works or how it is put together. Have you ever
stopped to wonder why the plane is shaped the way it is? Or what each section is
called?

In this lesson, we're going to go through a few of the parts that make up an airplane
and talk about what they are and what they do.

Airplanes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes depending on the

mission of the aircraft. They all, however, have the same basic parts:

1. wings
2. fuselage, or body
3. empennage, or tail assembly
4. landing gear
5. engine 

All of these parts, with the exception of the engine, make up a plane's airframe. B
efore we learn about how planes fly, let's take a closer look at each of these main
parts.  The figure below illustrates the parts of an airplane and their functions. The
air- plane shown is a turbine-powered airliner, which has been chosen as a
representative aircraft. The aircraft configuration in the figure was chosen only as an
example. Individual aircraft may be configured quite differently from this airline.

1. Wings

For any airplane to fly, one must lift the weight of the airplane itself, the fuel, the
passengers, and the cargo. The wings generate most of the lift to hold the plane in
the air. Wings can have various shapes, depending on the type of plane for which
they are designed. Wings have different shapes because they're used for different
things. Some are designed to carry heavy cargo over long distances, and others are
are designed to fly at very fast speeds. Straight wings perform the best at both high
and low speeds. Many high-speed airplanes, especially jets, have swept-back wings.
(What are swept back wings? We will now on the next slide) These slant backward
from the root to the tip. In other words, their wings don’t extend straight out from

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the sides. Instead, they angle backwards to form a V shape. It reduces turbulence.
During flight, airplanes encounter turbulence from the friction created as air runs
across the plane’s wings. Swept wings, however, are designed to reduce turbulence
by slowing down the air as it moves across the surface of the wings. Therefore, air
moves more slowly across them, which reduces the amount of turbulence the
airplane encounters.

It has additional hinged, lift producing surfaces called flaps. Flaps are deployed
downward on takeoff and landing to increase the amount of lift ( Lift is the force that
directly opposes the weight of an airplane and holds the airplane in the air)
produced by the wing.

2. Fuselage or Body

It is one of the main components of a typical airplane.

The fuselage, or body, of the airplane, is the is the large outer shell that
encompasses an airplane’s main body. It
extends from the nose to the tail. Most have a tube-like shape and are covered with
a lightweight skin consisting of either aluminum or, on newer aircraft, a composite
material. Other materials used are steel, titanium, or carbon fibers. The
fuselage houses the controls, crew, passengers, and cargo. Transport aircraft
normally have a cockpit for the crew, a cabin for the passengers and separate cargo
compartments. The engine on most single-engine planes is located in the front
part of the fuselage. On multi-engine aircraft, one or all of the engines are either
attached to the wings or are located at the rear of the fuselage. The fuel for
transport category aircraft is typically carried in the wings as well as in the
fuselage. Long-range aircraft may carry additional fuel in tanks located in the tail
section.  The pilots sit in the cockpit at the front of the fuselage. Passengers and
cargo are carried in the rear of the fuselage. Some aircraft carry fuel in the fuselage;
others carry the fuel in the wings.

3. Empennage or tail

The tail assembly, or empennage, is the rear part of the airplane. It is the tail end

of the aircraft. Control surfaces on the empennage help to control and maneuver the
aircraft. It helps with the stability of the plane. It also provides directional control.
Pilots can easily change the airplane’s direction using control systems like stabilizers
that are attached to the empennage. The
tail usually has a fixed horizontal piece (called the horizontal stabilizer) prevents an
up-and-down motion of the nose.  It allows the aircraft to create an upward force

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during flight. They essentially look like small wings on the sides of the tail. Both the
left and right sides of an airplane’s tail will have a horizontal stabilizer.

While a fixed vertical piece (called the vertical stabilizer) keeps the nose of the

plane from swinging side to side. It is a component that’s designed to minimize side
slip — a phenomenon that occurs when an airplane begins to fly to the side. Without
a vertical stabilizer, an airplane may be pushed to the side.

The vertical stabilizer, however, is installed vertically on the airplane’s tail,

whereas the horizontal stabilizers are installed horizontally on the airplane’s tail.

At the rear of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers are small moving
surfaces that provide a means of controlling and maneuvering the airplane. The
hinged part of the vertical stabilizer is called the rudder and is used to deflect the tail 
to the left and right as viewed from the front of the fuselage. The rudder is a primary
flight control surface which controls rotation about the vertical axis of an aircraft.
When the pilot presses the left pedal, the rudder deflects to the left. This deflection
creates more lifting force on the right-hand side of the rudder, which moves the
plane’s nose to the left. The hinged part of
the horizontal stabilizer is called the elevator and is used to deflect the tail up and do
wn. The elevator is a horizontal control surface, usually located on the tail section,
that controls the plane’s pitch. Pitch is the motion airplanes make when they move
their nose up or down.

4. Landing Gear

You cannot have a safe plane without having the landing gear. Not only are these
parts imperative in order to land, but the landing gear is also used to help an aircraft
take-off.
The landing gear, or undercarriage, of an airplane, consists of the wheels (or floats)
upon which it moves when on the ground (or in the water). The landing gear also
supports the weight of the plane on the ground or in the water. Land- planes usually
have a tricycle landing gear, which is made up of the main gear, with as many as 12
wheels under each of the wings, and a nose gear with one or more wheels. Landing
gear may be fixed or retractable. A fixed landing gear remains extended in flight,
while a retractable one is retracted into either the wings or the fuselage after take-
off. Fixed landing gear creates drag, which can slow down the speed of the plane, so
most high-speed planes are designed with the retractable landing gear.

5. Engine

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An airplane's engine produces the power that makes the plane fly. Jet engines en
able large airplanes to fly long distances at high speeds. Jet engines move the
airplane forward with a great force that is produced by a tremendous thrust and
causes the plane to fly very fast. A jet engine takes in air at low speed or velocity.
The air is compressed and then burned with jet fuel in a combustion chamber,
forming a high-velocity jet exhaust. The exhaust moves back through the engine at
tremendous speed. This causes the engine to move forward at an equally high
speed. Before the exhaust passes out of the engine's tailpipe, it spins a turbine
wheel. This turbine runs the different parts of the engine.

(Don’t forget to answer the Self – Check Question 3.1 and Activity3.1!)

LESSON 9 TYPES AIRCRAFT

Types Aircraft

1. Wide-body Jets
The largest airliners are wide-body jets, commonly known as jumbo jets.
Widebody jets have a fuselage diameter of 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 ft). These
aircraft are frequently called twin-aisle aircraft because they usually have two
separate aisles running from the front to the back of the passenger cabin.
Typical wide-body aircraft can accommodate between 200 and 600
passengers, who are usually seated 7 to 10 abreast. Freight or cargo wide-
bodies also exist. These aircraft are commonly used for long flights between
airline hubs. Aircraft in this category include the Boeing 747, Boeing 767,
Boeing 777, Airbus A300/A310, A330/ A340, DC-10, MD-11, and Ilyushin II-
86/96.

2. Narrow-body Jets
A smaller, more common class of traditional airliners is the narrow-body
jets. This airliner has a diameter of 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 ft), a single aisle,
and seats arranged 2 to 6 abreast, while the largest narrow-bodies carry
about 280 passengers. These smaller airliners are generally used for medium-
distance flights with fewer passengers than their wide-body counterparts.
Examples include the Boeing 717, 737, 757, DC-9, MD80 series and Airbus
A320 family. Older airliners like the Boeing 727, DC-8, Fokker 70/100, VC10,
Tupolev, and Yakovlev jets also fit into this category.

3. Regional Airliners
Regional airliners generally seat fewer than 100 passengers and may be
powered by turbofans or turboprops. These airliners, though smaller than

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aircraft operated by major airlines, frequently serve customers who expect

service similar to that offered by the crew on larger aircraft. Therefore, most
regional airliners have a flight attendant to look after the in-flight needs of
passengers. Airlines and their partners sometimes use these for short flights
between small hubs, or for bringing passengers to hub cities where they may
board larger aircraft.  Typical aircraft in this category are the Bombardier CRJ
series and “Q” (DASH- 8) series, Embraer ERJ 145 family, ATR 42/72, and Saab
340/2000.

LESSON 10 CABIN CREW CONFIGURATIONS

Classes of Service – Nowadays, getting a flight is not just about travelling from Point a to Point
B. Airlines introduced multiple classes of service which differs depending on the customers
perception on price, comfort and luxury.

 Economy Class – it is another term for the airplane's main cabin (located in the rear /back
of the aircraft), sometimes referred to as coach  class; economy class typically makes up
the bulk of the seating on a flight. It's the simplest class, with the fewest amenities.
 Non-refundable/non -changeable ticket
 More standard level of service – no perks
 Narrower seats - 16 inches to just over 19 inches wide
 Less pitch (pace between one point on an aircraft passenger seat to the same point on the
seat in front of it. – 30-34 inches) distance of and recline
 Simple meals or snacks (sometimes with no menu choice) or even no service at all

 Business Class – it is an airline class above economy with upgraded amenities, service,
and seating. It is distinguished from other travel classes by the quality of seating, food,
drinks, ground service and other amenities. 
(also known as executive class) flight tickets are also expensive, but much more affordable
than first class. These are usually purchased by business travelers.
 Located in the compartment at the front of the plane. 
 Wider seats
 Greater pitch (more than 50 inches )
 More recline (60 percent or more) wider seat that reclines back but doesn’t lie flat/ eat
that converts to a full lie-flat seat
 More choices meals multi-course meals
 Complimentary non – alcoholic/alcoholic beverages personal minibar or it has full bar
area with a bartender

 First Class – it is a travel class on some passenger airliners intended to be more luxurious

than business and economy class. It is limited number (rarely more than 20) of seats or
cabins toward the front of the aircraft which have more space, comfort, service, and
privacy. 
It is the most expensive class in an airline and often occupied by celebrities and wealthy
passengers.
 Free access to pre – boarding lounge
 More comfortable seats can recline to a flat bed. a door for privacy
 Offers luxurious amenities, food, and service comparable to hotels. Bathroom with
shower

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 Airline seats

The types of seats that are provided and amount of legroom given to
each passenger are decisions made by the individual airlines, not the aircraft
manufacturers. A normal economy class has 3 – 4 – 3 configurations to
accommodate more customers. In the hopes of getting more passengers, the airlines
are somehow cramming the seats , detracting passenger comfort. Passengers seated
in an exit row at a door (the row of seats adjacent to a door emergency exit) enjoy
substantially more legroom than those seated in the remainder of the cabin. why is
there wider legroom in exit rooms?- or allow for faster escapes during an
emergency. The seats directly in front of a window emergency exit row may have
less legroom and generally do not recline (for evacuation safety reasons).
Requirements regarding exit row seats ensure they can only be occupied by
passengers who would be willing and able to assist with the exit operation in the
event of an emergency.  You have to be at least 15 years old. You must have
sufficient mobility, strength.

Airline seats are designed to be lightweight, but at the same time strong and
fire resistant, while also taking into account passenger comfort.The seats are
designed to withstand strong forces so as not to break or come loose from their floor
tracks during turbulence or accidents. Aircraft seats are made from a wide variety of
nonmetallic materials that releases heat. These components can be grouped into
five basic areas: foam rubber cushions, upholsteries are actually fire blocker and
heat resistant plastic moldings.

READ SLIDE…………………

 Overhead bin features

Overhead bins are used for stowing carry-on baggage and other items.
compartment located above the seats which is meant to store the luggage of the
passengers. While the airliner manufacturer will normally supply a standard product,
airlines often prefer to customize this feature. They choose to have bins of differing
size, shape, or color installed. Bins have increased in size in order to
accommodate the more numerous and larger carry-on baggage many passengers
bring onto the aircraft.

Above the passenger seats are the generically termed Passenger Service
Units (PSU). It is located above each seat row in the overhead panel below the
cabin .This typically contains a reading light,( it is designed to create comfort to
passengers, It improves brightness , thus limiting overflow to neighboring
passengers) “gasper” air vent, and a flight attendant call light ( this is to alert cabin
crew for any emergencies or if you need something but you don’t want to disturb
other passengers). The units often have small “Fasten Seat Belt” ( this is navigated by
the captain, When it’s on, you remain in your seat with your seatbelt on. When it’s

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off, you’re free to move about the cabin. It is also used by captains to send secret
message to the cabin crews) and “No Smoking” (smoking is prohibited in airlines;
however, there is still no smoking sign. many people continue to smoke on airplanes.
This provides a place to put a cigarette, other than the waste bin, or somewhere less
desirable where the ashes might start a fire, )illuminated signage installed. They may
also contain a speaker for the cabin public address system.  

The PSU will also generally contain the drop-down oxygen masks, which
are activated if there is a sudden drop in cabin pressure. Incase of cabin
depressurization( lower air pressure to create safe and comfortable environment)
oxygen masks will drop automatically.These are supplied with oxygen by means of a
chemical oxygen generator in late model aircraft. By using a chemical reaction rather
than a connection to an oxygen tank, these devices supply breathing oxygen for long
enough for the aircraft to descend to thicker, more breathable air. Oxygen
generators do generate considerable heat in the process. Because of this, the oxygen
generators are thermally shielded and are only allowed in commercial airliners when
properly installed.  

Safe operation of aircraft requires all hold cargo and baggage to be weighed it
must be loaded correctly and secured to prevent movement in flight. Airliners must
have space on board to store baggage that will not safely fit in the passenger cabin.
Designed to hold baggage as well as freight, these compartments are usually called
“cargo bins” or “holds”. There are regualtions and limitations in loading cargo.
-EXPLAIN ISSUES WITH BAGGAGE - These compartments can be accessed through
doors on the outside of the aircraft. Depending on the aircraft, baggage holds are
normally pressurized just like the passenger cabin although they may not be heated.
The fuselage is pressurized including the passenger area and the cargo to avoid from
making it collapsed. Baggage holds on modern airliners are equipped with fire
detection equipment and larger aircraft have automated or remotely activated fire-
fighting devices installed. Liners are a passive fire protection feature. The primary
purpose of a cargo liner is to prevent a fire originating in a cargo compartment from
spreading to other parts of the airplane before it can be brought under control by
the fire suppression system.

Lesson 12 AIRLINE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

There are several manufacturing companies building aircraft today,

located throughout most regions of the world. These aircraft manufacturers are
more correctly referred to as “airframe manufacturers” since they provide
the mechanical structure or frame of the airplane to the airline. We will discuss two

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of the most familiar builders of the most famous of present-day commercial

airplanes, that is, Boeing and Airbus.

 Airbus Industrie – AI – FRANCE

  Airbus Industrie is probably the best-known example of this new business

model. In 2001, Airbus became a single fully integrated company incorporated
under French law.  Manufacturing, production and subassembly of parts for Airbus
aircraft are distributed around 16 sites in Europe, with final assembly in Toulouse,
France, and Hamburg, Germany. It draws on a global network of more than 1,500
suppliers in over 30 countries. The company tries to create ties with industry in all
the countries where it is represented, aiming to place its suppliers where its
customers are.

One of the advanced features of the Airbus product line is the fact that
they were specifically designed to incorporate a high degree of commonality
between airplane family group members. The benefits of commonality in such areas
as cockpit design and aircraft systems, coupled with the practical use of
modern technology, can produce valuable savings in aircraft and engine spares
holdings, maintenance and training, as well as in operational flexibility. All these
features mean excellent operational savings for the airline. 

Airbus Model Description

Airbus A300 A short to medium range wide body aircraft. Launched in

1972, it was the first twin-engine wide body in the world,
and the first aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of
European aerospace companies.

Airbus A310 A medium to long-range wide body airliner developed

from the Airbus A300 and manufactured by Airbus SAS. Its
range led to the aircraft being used extensively on
transatlantic routes.

Airbus A320 A short-to-medium range commercial passenger aircraft.

First delivered in 1988, the A320 pioneered the use of
digital fly-by-wire flight control systems in a commercial
aircraft. With more than 2600 built, it is the second
bestselling jet airliner family of all time, after the Boeing
737, its closest rival.

Airbus A330 A large-capacity medium-to-long-range commercial

passenger airliner. It was developed at the same time as
the four-engined A340. Airbus intended the A330 to
compete directly in the ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-

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engine Operation Performance Standards) market, which

was established by the Boeing 767.

Airbus A340 A long-range four-engined wide body

commercial passenger airplane. It is similar in design to
the two-engined A330. The airplane was initially designed
as a smaller replacement for early generation Boeing 747s,
but the latest variants now compete with Boeing's 777
series of aircraft on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes.

Airbus A380 A double-decker, four-engined airliner. It first flew on April

27, 2005 from Toulouse, France. Commercial flights should
begin in late 2006 after 15 months of testing, with the
delivery of the first aircraft to launch for Singapore Airlines.
The nickname Superjumbo has become associated with the
A380. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world,
topping the Boeing 747, which was the largest for 35 years.
However, the Antonov An-225 retains the record of being
the world's largest commercial aircraft, although its
passenger capacity is only about 80, and only one
flying aircraft currently exists.

 The Boeing Company – USA

The Boeing Company represents the more classic business model. Created by an
aviation pioneer, William E. Boeing in 1916, it grew from one man's dream and hard
work to become one of the leaders in aircraft manufacture. As markets evolved, so
did Boeing jets. The company developed a series of innovative jet liners, powered by
a variety of sophisticated power-trains. Airlines have always had the option of
outfitting their Boeing planes with the engine of their choice, from the manufacturer
of their choice typically General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. The B737
was initially designed as a smaller, short-range, twin-engine jet. It was so successful
that over the years, it has become the largest selling aircraft in the world in terms of
overall numbers, with many advancements introduced with the Next Generation
series.

It was the undisputed world leader in large commercial aircraft design and

production for many years, growing bigger and stronger through innovation and
acquisition, until it was recently overtaken in this market segment in terms of new
aircraft deliveries and orders by the relative newcomer – Airbus Industrie.

Boeing Model Description

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Boeing 737 The world's most popular medium range – narrow body
commercial passenger jet aircraft. It is the most ordered
commercial passenger jet aircraft of all time. It has been
continuously manufactured since 1967. This airliner is now
so widely used that at any time there are over 1250
of these aircraft in the air worldwide. On average one takes
off every five seconds.

Boeing 747 Commonly called the Jumbo Jet, is one of the most

recognizable modern jet airliners. Largest airliner currently
in airline service. First flown commercially in 1970, it held
the size record for more than 35 years, although it has
been surpassed by the Airbus A380. The four-engine
747 uses a two-deck configuration. A typical three-class
layout accommodates 416 passengers, while a two-class
layout accommodates a maximum of 524 passengers. The
hump created by the upper deck has made the 747 a highly
recognizable icon of air travel. The 747-400, the only series
currently in production, flies at high-subsonic
speeds (typically mach 0.85 (1041 km/h) and features
intercontinental range (7260 nm (13446 km)). In some
configurations this is sufficient to fly nonstop from New
York to Hong Kong — a third of the way around the globe.

Boeing 757 A medium-range transcontinental commercial passenger

airplane. It was designed for Eastern Air Lines and
British Airways to replace the Boeing 727 and entered
service in 1983. Production of the 757 ended on November
28, 2005 after 1,050 had been built. The 757 could
be considered as one of Boeing's most successful
programs. The demand for the 757-200 continues mainly
due to its New York to Western Europe range.

Boeing 767 A wide-body jet was introduced at around the same time

as the 757, its narrowbody sister. It has a seat-to-aisle ratio
in economy class of 3.5 seats per aisle, making for quicker
food service and quicker exit of the plane than many
other jetliners, which typically have between four and six
seats per aisle in economy class. On the downside, as the
767 has a slightly narrower fuselage diameter than other
wide-body aircraft (such as the Airbus A300 and A310), it is
unable to carry ordinary Unit Load Devices, and instead has
to use specially designed air freight containers and pallets.

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It is to be succeeded in the Boeing lineup by the 787.

Boeing 777 It is a family of long-range wide-body twin-engine airliners.

It carries between 305 and 550 passengers and has a range
from 5,210 to 9,420 nautical miles (10,370 to 17,445 km).
The first flight of the 777 was in 1994. Its direct
competitors are the Airbus A330 and A340. Distinguishing
features of the 777 include the set of six wheels on each
main landing gear, it’s perfectly circular fuselage cross-
section, the pronounced “neck” aft of the cockpit, and the
blade-like rear tail cone.

Boeing 787 The Dreamliner is a mid-sized wide-body passenger airliner

currently under development and scheduled to
enter service in 2008. It will carry between 200 and 350
passengers depending on the seating configuration. It will
be more fuel-efficient than comparable earlier airliners. It
will also be the first major airliner to use composite
material for most of its construction.

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MODULE 3
OUTPUT
Operations Management in Tourism and Hospitality Industry (OPEM 311)

NAME: COURSE & YEAR:

CLASS SCHEDULE: DATE SUBMITTED:

You, the general manager of an airline company, and the rest of the board of
directors, recently bought an aircraft in addition to your commercial fleet. You are
tasked to market the new plane to potential investors. Create a marketing portfolio
of the new aircraft. Be creative! You may draw or use different online platforms to
create the portfolio. Just make sure that it includes the parts and types of aircraft,
airline classes, and the name of the manufacturing company.

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