Powervamp have supplied four 400hz Static Frequency Converters to be used for the first Air India Dreamliner service, now operating at Birmingham Airport.
The new Dreamliner service is the first regular service to India on the Boeing 787-8 (Dreamliner) aircraft and Birmingham is only the second UK airport to operate dedicated Dreamliner scheduled services. It’s a prestigious event in the airport’s calendar and Powervamp are proud to have played such a pivotal role.
The impressively sized 256 seat 787-8 has a split cabin that consists of 18 business class and 238 economy seats. The aircraft is regarded as Boeing’s most fuel-efficient airliner, designed to be 20% more efficient than the Boeing 767.
The airport was conscious of the continuous power requirements of the 787-8, while on the ground for three and a half hours at a time. After a successful trial period using the Powervamp PV90 Frequency Converter, Birmingham Airport contacted Powervamp to place an order that would see the PV90 replace their existing ground power systems.
Four new PV90s were deployed, situated on two stands dedicated to the new Dreamliner aircraft service. Powervamp also sent in the Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) specialist team; the FEGP team had recently arrived back from Paris Air Show where they managed the ground power requirements for Qatar Airways’ and Air India’s 787-8, not to mention British Airway’s A380.
Powervamp’s Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) specialist team ready for action on the day
Installation and commissioning was completed on both stands over a period of four days. Powervamp also provided a standby team for the first arrival and departure of the 787-8 to support Birmingham Airport on the day – a day that went down in history.
The new service is a response to increasing customer demand in the Midlands area. Air India currently operate flights each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, coming to and from Amritsar and Delhi (see www.airindia.com for more information).
Birmingham Airport’s CEO, Paul Kehoe, said on the airport’s website: “We are delighted to welcome this new service into Birmingham and to now offer regular scheduled services to Delhi and Amritsar on the fantastic Dreamliner aircraft. Air India has responded to the enormous demand that lies in our catchment and we thank all the support received from the City, and indeed the region, to secure these direct flights.”
Powervamp’s PV90 400hz Static Frequency Converters in action at Birmingham AirportAbout Powervamp’s 400hz Static Frequency Converter
Powervamp’s 400hz Static Frequency Converter ground power unit (GPU) provides low cost and reliable power for 400Hz aircrafts, making them one of the most popular on the market. The IP65 supplied cabinet offers total protection from severe weather and has been designed for high volume airflow. As with all Powervamp frequency converters, it uses electronic rectifiers with ‘power factor correction’ designed to ensure that the current drawn from the mains is perfectly in phase with the voltage, giving higher efficiency. The units are microprocessor controlled and designed for continuous operation at full load.
