Open any 787 cockpit layout PDF, and your eye goes immediately to the five large, landscape-oriented LCDs (two Primary Flight Displays, two Navigation Displays, and one central Multi-Function Display). Unlike the portrait screens of the Airbus A380 or the smaller squares of the 737 MAX, the 787’s 15-inch landscape format mimics the pilot’s natural field of vision.
Why landscape? Boeing’s human factors team found that lateral scanning (left-to-right) is faster and less fatiguing than vertical scanning. The PDF layout shows how the Primary Flight Display (PFD) sits adjacent to the Navigation Display (ND) on the same horizontal plane. Pilots don’t glance down—they glance across. This reduces head movement by nearly 40% compared to legacy cockpits.
The central lower display, just above the thrust levers, is the “knee-board killer.” In the PDF, you’ll see it’s positioned for touch input (although initially non-touch, later blocks added touch capability). It houses the Electronic Checklist, Flight Management Computer (FMC) data, and systems synoptics—all without a cluttered control panel around it.
Lost in many simple cockpit layout PDFs is the LDU keyboard. On the pedestal (between the pilots), just forward of the throttles, is a full QWERTY keyboard and a cursor control device. This is for the FMC data entry. Legacy planes require typing on a small, alphabetically scrambled scratchpad. The 787 allows typing “KJFK” as naturally as on a PC. boeing 787 cockpit layout pdf
The PDF layout shows the cursor control device as a small trackpad to the right of the keyboard. Why? Because the captain (left seat) can reach it with their right hand without removing their left hand from the sidestick. First officer uses their left hand. This ambidextrous design is invisible in photos but jumps out in a dimensioned PDF.
A Boeing 787 cockpit layout PDF will show the overhead panel divided into logical clusters:
Not every 787 cockpit layout PDF includes the HUD, but the advanced versions do. The 787 is the first Boeing jet where the HUD is standard on the captain’s side (optional on the first officer’s side). In the PDF, you’ll see the HUD combiner positioned directly above the glare shield, between the pilot’s eyes and the windshield. Open any 787 cockpit layout PDF, and your
The layout reveals something subtle: the HUD control panel is placed on the left outboard sub-panel, not on the main glareshield. This forces a deliberate hand movement to turn it on—preventing accidental activation. The symbology set includes a “pathway-in-the-sky” tunnel, which, when overlaid on the PDF schematic, shows how Boeing prioritized visual flying even in low-visibility Cat III conditions.
A photograph of the 787 cockpit is impressive but flat. A technical PDF layout—with dimensions, switch callouts, panel part numbers, and electrical bus assignments—is a different beast. Mechanics use it for troubleshooting. Pilots study it for type rating oral exams. Sim builders replicate it for home cockpits. UX designers study it as a case study in reducing cognitive load.
The Boeing 787 cockpit layout PDF is not a relic of paper aviation. It is a blueprint for how to arrange a workspace for two humans who must operate flawlessly for 18 hours, through turbulence and fatigue, with lives depending on every switch throw. That PDF is a quiet masterpiece of ergonomic engineering—and every time you see a 787 in the sky, that layout is flying it. Primary sources for accurate 787 cockpit layout PDFs
Primary sources for accurate 787 cockpit layout PDFs (real-world):
Note: Actual PDFs are copyright Boeing and typically restricted to operators and training organizations.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is often hailed as the most technologically advanced airliner in the sky. For pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and sim developers, understanding the "office" of this aircraft is a fascinating endeavor. The most common search query for this information is "Boeing 787 cockpit layout pdf" —a digital blueprint of glass screens, side-sticks, and head-up displays.
In this long-form article, we will break down every major component of the 787 flight deck, explain where to find official and reliable PDF resources, and analyze why the layout represents a radical shift from traditional Boeing philosophy.