Leipzig-Hongkong - Box512/19 B777F

The eruption of Icelandic volcanoes usually means the disruption of the entire European air space. Not the “Grímsvötn”. When it erupted on this day only the lower layers of the atmosphere to the northeast were affected. This meant that the route to the US West Coast had to be shifted far to the north at the last minute – gaining an hour – past the ash cloud that could be seen in the distance. Part of the film is devoted to innovations in the “sanctum”, in what is presently the newest and most modern cockpit in the world, which only a few people have been allowed to set foot in up to now. The first thing you see are the numerous screens and two “palm stones” that resemble ostrich eggs – which turn out to be computer mice especially designed for pilots. They make it possible to move the cursor properly even when there is turbulence. PilotsEYE.tv shows the flagship cockpit, the pride and joy of the pilots. BTV stands for “brake to vacate” a newly developed system that reduces wear and tear on the brakes and which at the same time provides better passenger comfort. How these first-ever “power brakes” calculate in advance the braking distance and determine how far the plane will roll before it comes to a stop is explained in this episode in a way that anybody can understand. A special ritual at airports is saying goodbye with the so-called water salute in which approx. 50-meter high arches of water are sprayed over the aircraft by two fire trucks. In the background you can hear the overture to “Tannhäuser” by Richard Wagner, Raps’ favorite composer.