Graeme H wrote:And Ray, you only spent a few years as ground staff,.
So what does that mean Graeme???.....what's your inference here, and what's it's relevance to this discussion??
I spent MANY years as crew on BOTH types.
Given that I have occupied both air and ground crew operational and management positions over the past 25 years with a mixed Boeing/Airbus fleet, I can tell you from personal experience which type went U/S more often for me .
I well remember the 737 windscreen problems you mentioned but, as you have pointed out, that was an event that affected the type for just over a year and was rectified relatively quickly....not bad for an aeroplane that has been in continuous production since the 60s. Can Airbus say the same.......for ANY of their product???
And let's not forget.....it wasn't a Boeing that suddenly decided to depart controlled flight and go into a series of uncommanded and violent "mysterious" dives off the WA coast severely injuring, (and in some cases nearly killing), nearly 50 passengers and crew. You might want to ask the Captain and First Officer of that particular aircraft their views on the wonderful product from Toulouse, (I have, and I can't print their rather "colourful" responses here ).
Yeah.....I think it is safe to say I am no Airbus fan-boy (although I will concede, the A330-200 is a stylish and good-looking aeroplane. And I always did like the A300 and the A310).
I acknowledge though, this whole subjective debate really is a personal opinion-based "Holden V Ford" type discussion.
TOR
PS: And here is something to ponder in closing .....just how many A380s have been sold in North America???