Boeing Speaks On 787 Progress
February 21st, 2008
Boeing has spoken to me about the progress thus far on the 787 Dreamliner. In the wake of the airplane’s second major program delay announced last month, Boeing is progressing well to providing guidance on the interim targets set for production and delivery when it reveals in early April 2008 the revised schedule.
At the Singapore Air Show this week, major Boeing customer ILFC had alluded to various areas of concern pertaining to the 787 program and in particular of the high density, shorter ranged 787-3 model destined to enter service with launch customer All Nippon Airways in the summer of 2010.
Image courtesy of Boeing
Boeing tells me the following:
“It’s always great to hear from our customers and we share the excitement about the 787 and are looking forward to what the future may hold. We’ve been open about our challenges on the 787 program. And we’re working hard so we can deliver airplanes that meet our customers’ needs.
We’ve stated clearly to our customers and public, that the priorities on the 787 program are the completion of the first airplane, flight test, certification and deliveries of airplanes that meet the needs of our customers. “
On speaking further, Boeing quashed any rumours of any variant of the current 787 family being terminated.
“Boeing has customers for, and is committed to, the 787-8, the 787-3 and the 787-9. All other 787 derivatives, including the 787-10 and any potential other models, are not yet defined nor committed. Of course we always monitor the market for emerging requirements that may influence our future product development activity.”
Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter, quoted in a Bloomberg story, did however confirm that in an effort to push ahead with the first 787, staff resources allocated to the 787-3 were being redeployed. “Some of the resources from the 787-3 have been temporarily redeployed for the time being…That’s in an effort to support the program’s nearer-term priorities,” she’s quoted as saying in the story.
Boeing tells me that derivatives’ development and production schedules will be included in the 787 Program assessment that is expected around the end of the first quarter.
Equally, there were rumours late last fall that Boeing faced a crises with not having enough pilots to test fly the 787, 777F and 747-8F. These proved to be unfounded despite the 787 being delayed.
Work on both large freighters continues in full swing and we look forward to Boeing sharing its new guidance on the 787 program.
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9 Comments Add your own
1. Mike | February 21st, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Storm in a teacup. With the pressure on getting the first 787 in the air, certification and beginning deliveries, I think it’s a smart move to “redeploy” resource to achive the most important objectives.
2. Aurora | February 21st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
After the orders were announced on the first day, it seems that the media is starved for news at the Singapore air show.
3. Rob | February 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 am
GE might ’step up to the plate here’ as they did with the 773 and persuade Boeing to go exclusive with the GEnx.
4. Chris Wallace | February 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 am
The 787-3 has always struck me as a “down and dirty” program designed to meet the needs of JL and NH in the domestic market as a replacement for the 767-300 and 777-200. To keep development costs and time down, they essentially took a 787-8, swapped the raked wingtips for upturned winglets, and paper de-rated the MTOW.
The MEW is 10t less, but most of that is in the wingbox area, I have been led to believe, which means that while it has the same fuel volume of a 787-8, it cannot fill the center tank to anywhere near full capacity, which kills it’s range, especially at a full load. But since the plane is doing the equivalent of intra-California missions, 1250nm or so at full payload is plenty of range.
The only real advantage the 787-3 offers over the 787-8 is the shorter wingspan, which allows it to fit in “B-Type” gates (FAA Group IV / ICAO Code D). There has been much discussion amongst “armchair CEOs” about the possibility of Boeing taking the 787-8 and putting the 787-3 winglets on it for airlines, especially those in the United States, who need a plane that fits in the same gates as a 767, but offers much better range then the 787-3.
5. keesje | February 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
6 months ago I put forward a medium range 787-5.
http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3496727
It now appears “non arm chair” ceo’s agree.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/2008/02/boeing-considers-suspending-sh.html
and Boeing is relocating key 787-3 staff.
Everyone is free to copy what Boeing says & label anything else as “arm chair”. Meanwhile business reality is progressing.
Same for 747-8i : listen to Randy & you are 2 steps behind.
6. Chris Wallace | February 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Well I am as guilty of “arm-chairing” as the next fella, so I wasn’t trying to be derogatory with the term.
I think a 787-8 with the winglets (so a 52m span) is likely the best option. 10t is not a terrible MEW penalty to pay for the flexibility it offers and airlines can always paper de-rate the MTOW if they don’t need the full amount to save on landing fees.
7. Chris C | February 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Keesje, Listen to John Leahy and you’re 2 decades behind!!
Despite what Airbus’ COO for customers wants, thinks or claims, the 747-8I will be a success, as it has no competitor. You very well know the A380 and 747-8I serve two distinctly different markets. Oh, the 747-8I is more fuel-efficient than an A380, but then again, as I said, does it really matter considering one is a 400seat to 500seat airplane and the other a 500seat plus airplane? The orders will come for the -8I, just as they will for the A380. Which one makes for a more profitable and lower risk business case, well, I would say the 747-8I. Both are great airplanes, but your continued -8I bashing is rather boring.
8. Rod | February 24th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
The black bold lettering over the aircraft pictured at the top,
( BOEING777’s Editorial ) needs to be changed to 787
Thanks.
9. Rod | February 25th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Keesje and Leahy are light years ahead of Boeing with all their ‘up in the air speculation’ !! Maybe Boeing should hire these two airheaded dudes as well as all the others out there:)
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