ATW Daily News

787 remains on track to fly this year

Monday October 19, 2009

Responding to media speculation that its 787 program may suffer more delays because of the complex side-of-body modification, Boeing VP and GM-787 Dreamliner Program Scott Fancher issued a statement Friday claiming that the troubled aircraft is on schedule to fly this year.

"The design of the side-of-body solution is on track. Installations of the fittings are proceeding well and we are pleased with the progress we are making on this important effort. We continue to be on track to fly the 787 by the end of the year," Fancher said. The manufacturer will deliver a more comprehensive review of the program's status on Oct. 21 during its third-quarter earnings call.

Last week, various media outlets reported that sources on the 787 production line claimed that some parts of the fix needed redesign (ATWOnline, Sept. 25), which may push first flight into 2010. Supporting that scenario, the first flight aircraft, ZA001, which was scheduled to return to flight test on Oct. 15, remains in the paint hangar where the modification is being undertaken.

Separately, Boeing has come up a plan to ease the certification pressures created by the overlaps in the 787 and 747-8 programs. The 787 flight test program will be based at Boeing Field while flight testing for the 747-8F will be conducted at remote sites. Its initial airworthiness testing will be conducted at Moses Lake in central Washington. Once that is completed, the three 747-8s in the certification program will be located at Palmdale, Calif., for the balance of the testing.

by Geoffrey Thomas

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