777-200F & 747-8F - The World On Time

Reports surfaced of the 787 Dreamliner rescheduling directly impacting upon the testing and service entry of the two newest Boeing freighters, the 777-200F and 747-8F.

Thanks to some accurate research, it has been confirmed that these rumors are just that.

Image courtesy of Boeing.com

Despite the recent changes to the 787 program, Boeing is firmly on track to deliver the first 777-200F in the fourth quarter of 2008. Assembly of the first airplane is scheduled to commence during the first quarter of 2008.

After speaking to a senior executive at one of the initial launch customers of the 747-8F, the assertion that the type may also be affected by the 787 delay or alleged transfer of 747 engineers has also been firmly dispelled.

Image courtesy of Boeing.com

“As far as we are concerned, the 747 Freighter remains on track to be delivered as planned“.

“There is nothing from Boeing or any indication to us at least, that the timetable will not be met. Obviously things can change, as we’ve all witnessed with the 787, but we’re optimistic that our (dash) 8’s will be delivered on time“.

Noted above, things can and do change - where the A380 and 787 are two all new designs for both Airbus and Boeing, the 777 and 747 are the most mature products in the market with a very good supplier base and logistics network undergoing very little comparative change to cater for the 777-200F and 747-8F.

Also, the issue of pilot availability is emerging as a skewed story - not least because both the 787 and 777-200F programs have their own pools of pilots allocated for flight tests.

Image courtesy of Cargolux.com

According to former 787 program head, Mike Bair, Boeing may re-examine the global supply chain to its next airplane.

Click here and here.

“The right way to do this would be to have all those big parts across the street, so you could just roll them in,” says Bair. “We’ll see on the next airplane programmes whether we can accomplish something like that.”

Naturally, Airbus will also be keeping an eye on how it intends to distribute work amongst partners on its oft-delayed, redesigned A350XWB jet.

While Scott Carson acknowledged that there may be no passenger orders in the remainder of 2007 for the 747-8I, 2008 may just be the year that the type secures new customers.

One thing is for certain, until Boeing announces any firm schedule changes, the two newest cargo kings will be hauling freight as planned - and on time too.

11 comments November 2nd, 2007