[polak]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Would you buy a new 2013 Honda Accord if they hadn't updated the model since 2002? Neither would transportation authorities consider buying old technology for extended periods of time.

Airlines don't replace their fleets with drastically different planes every 5 years. They buy the same model to ensure that everything stays compatible. Yes, the technology may be a little different on the inside, but you make sure that the basics are all the same. This makes life a lot easier as you can keep everything else the same and allows for you to adopt new auxiliary technologies (Hey, like protective glass railings) and still keep the whole fleet compatible.


I'm not saying replace the fleet every time a car breaks or you need to add capacity. I'm saying replace the car with something that is similar to what you currently have. If some amazing new technology comes out that would be uncompatible with the current fleet, then you weigh the benefits of the tech versus the cost of upgrading the entire fleet.