Is Boeing cockpit better than Airbus Cockpits Design in 2025

Early, the Boeing cockpit and Airbus Cockpits free from instruments, the pilot operates the aircraft by visual observation. In 1930, the cockpit was equipped with a few instruments for operating at night and in poor visibility. Furthermore, they added instruments for landing in poor weather conditions and still added instruments for reducing human error and workload over pilots. The cockpit consists of switches, dial gauge and screen which are arranged in the proper manner. Different manufacturers have different philosophies. Only Airbus and Boeing cockpit have been successful in making commercial transport cockpits and others try but do not make it possible.

The glass cockpit, first adopted by the Airbus A310 and Boeing 757 and 767, reduced the traditional analog gauge with an electronic display, which is best for providing better situational awareness to the pilot. Over the past decade, Boeing and Airbus have both been innovating their cockpit layouts with different philosophies and operations approaches. The two different layouts and functional approaches have different feedback based on advancement, safety and user-friendly systems. In this article, let’s discuss two different cockpit layouts of aerospace titans – Airbus and Boeing.

About Boeing philosophy 

Boeing, an American company, always supports yoke. Prioritized pilot over automation. In 1995, we added fly-by-wire with the traditional yoke to the B777. Overtime transmission of the gauge to the glass cockpit with stay-on yoke control. On B757 and 767 they introduce a glass cockpit. The further launch of the 747-400 with the new glass cockpit reduced the crew members to two. Cockpit upgraded at every turn with the latest equipment to keep the flight safe and minimize pilot mistakes. The latest, B777x cockpit, has dual interconnected yokes, delivering the hand on flying and enhancing situation awareness.

Alan Mulally, Former Head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes:

“Our philosophy is simple: give the pilot control, give them tools, and never take the decision away.”

The Boeing cockpit, equipped with various switches, it’s counting depends upon the model and version. Older models like the B 747-200 have a high number of switches, dials and indicators in commercial aircraft, around 971 switches. In newer models, the 777 reduces the need for individual switches by relying on automation and integrated systems. Indeed, fewer switches are possible by installing multifunction displays (MFDs) and primary flight displays (PDFs) to reduce pilot workload, provide the cockpit with smart workflow, less stress and safer skies.

The Boeing 777 include the features : 

• Even larger displays (four 15.1-inch screens).
• Next-gen avionics with e-enabled systems.
• Enhanced HUDs and flight path vector tech.
• Yoke retained—but with updated feedback for fly-by-wire precision.

About Airbus Philosophy 

Airbus, an EU company, their philosophy relies more on electronic signals, in place of yoke using side-stick controllers. In 1987, the Airbus A320 launched onto the market. It was the first commercial aircraft with a full digital glass cockpit and fly by wire controls. Airbus believes in computer logic to manage conflict inputs. They turn from analog systems to ultra-modern, touch-screen-enabled, fly-by-wire cockpits. Interesting fact, all Airbus cockpits have the same standard which is set by the A320, just upgrading the digital integration and pilot – centric design in all newer models and versions.

Tom Enders, Former CEO of Airbus Group:

“The Airbus cockpit is designed not just to fly the aircraft, but to manage a system. It’s a partner in command.”

Airbus has a minimalist, grouped and status-based switch layout, as the A300 has 400 to 500 switches, the A320 has a total of 250 to 300 switches, the A 380 has 300 to 350 switches, which is larger aircraft, and the A350AWB wide-body aircraft with touch displays advance integration has 200 to 250 switches, the lowest switch counts in commercial aircraft.

The Airbus A350 include the features : 

• Six large LCD screens
• Head-Up Display (HUD)
• Fly-by-wire controls
• Enhanced Vision System (EVS)
• Integrated Modular Avionics
• Ergonomic layout
• Airport navigation display
• Noise reduction system

Pilot Perspective 

Every pilot has a different opinion based on their training and experience. In comparison, the Airbus pilot wanted a highly automated system with the pilot monitoring and taking action only when necessary. Meanwhile, the Boeing autopilot system only handles repetitive tasks such as maintaining course and altitude. The difference in yoke and throttle movement, as Airbus joystick with non-moving throttle during the entire flight. The Boeing B777 and B787 are even more automated than their predecessors. Pilots prefer aircraft based on hands-on practice. Boeing pilots favor the cockpit layout and Airbus prefers its design. In conclusion, it totally depends on personal training background and operational needs. After all, Boeing pilots need special training to transmit B737 to B787 or other aircraft, but, as in Airbus, its pilots don’t require any kind of special training for transmitting from A320 to A350 as they are cockpit commonality.

In the end, both companies have different approaches and come with unique innovations, now as the world is moving towards AI technology. Aircraft manufacturing industry, heavily investing into AI – based cockpit technology however, Boeing mainly focus on data- driven safety and automation while Airbus more focus on innovating single-pilot concept as both companies are facing challenges at different levels, expected to see meaningful AI based cockpit by 2030.

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