Boeing Cites 787 Progress As Airbus A350 Slips
October 31st, 2008
787 Brake Issue Resolved
A350XWB Design Freeze Slips, Questions Arise Over EIS Target
During the last media briefing at the Farnborough Air Show, Boeing 787 VP and General Manager Patrick Shanahan outlined a number of pending issues being worked on Airplane #1 before the recent IAM strike that shut down Everett (and other) operations - rendering the possibility of a fourth quarter first flight all but impossible.
One key issue related the highly advanced software being re-written for the brakes of the 787 due to a traceability anomaly.
Crane Aerospace supplies the brake control and monitoring system for the 787 Dreamliner family, which is given to GE Aviation Systems (formerly Smiths Aerospace) as part of the overall landing gear system.
Image courtesy of Boeing
The 787 Brake Control and Monitoring System incorporates new technology, which Crane Aerospace & Electronics calls “Remote Integrated Braking Services “ (RIBS).
This technology integrates anti-skid control, brake temperature, wheel speed, and tire pressure indication functions in an electronic control unit located at each axle. The RIBS system features passive wireless, for tire pressure sensing, and non-contacting Hall Effect, for wheel speed sensing.
According to Chad Thorne, Director of Landing Systems Solutions, benefits of the new technology include superior cost and weight savings and excellent fault tolerance.
Greg Ward, president of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, stated, “The brake control system used on the 787 will become the foundation of our next generation of brake control, which will offer significant advantages to new aircraft. We are proud that this new technology will be incorporated on the Boeing 787.”
Boeing revealed exclusively to FleetBuzz Editorial.com that the brake software was now “no longer an issue.”
“The issues with the brake software are behind us, functionality required for flight test is in the labs and is working well. (The final “blue label” version — for flight test — is in the lab and is undergoing tests, all known software problems are resolved. The formal “red label” version will follow in two weeks. We plan on a service-ready update during flight test that adds some additional functionality including tire pressure, operator initiated test, and dataload),” said 787 spokeswoman Yvonne Leach.
Whilst Boeing has been grappling with the production cessation due to industrial action, across the Atlantic, things have not been going so well for European rival, Airbus.
Ominously missing from October 2008 was Airbus’ oft-stated target that design freeze of the first A350XWB variant, the -900 would be reached this month.
This has not happened.
According to sources working directly on the A350XWB programme, Airbus now only envisages a partial design freeze for the A350-900 and remains “non-committal” about when full freeze will take place.
Airbus A350XWB chief engineer Gordon McConnell stated that the milestone would be reached in October 2008 and since then, FleetBuzz Editorial.com has learned that design freeze for the first variant may slip as far out as the second quarter of 2009, damaging any remote prospect Airbus held for attaining service entry in 2013.
Image courtesy of Airbus
“The A350 has been relaunched more times than any other aircraft in the history of commercial aviation - it’s on its seventh iteration — yet it’s still probably six years from service entry,” says Arran Aerospace’s MD, Doug McVitie.
“It will be late, guaranteed,” he added.
Emirates and Qatar Airways, both big A350 customers have candidly spoken about their displeasure at the pace of development, weight issues and service entry targets - any slippage will likely incur their wrath, especially from Emirates which also has 56 A380’s on order.
“Airbus is now held to ransom in China and in the Middle East - in both cases a hostage to someone else’s fortune,” McVitie says.
Having watched the 787 Dreamliner slip and experience itself first hand the near two year pain of the delivery of the A380, any delays to the A350 will not be without serious consequences for Airbus, particularly given the exposure it has to big customers in the Middle East.
Sphere: Related ContentEntry Filed under: 787 Dreamliner, 787 First Flight, 787 Orders, 787 Premiere, 787 Rollout, Aeroplane, Aerospace, Air Transport, Air Travel, Airbus, Airbus A350, Airbus A350XWB, Airbus A380, Airbus Orders, Airlines, Airplane, Airplane Order, Airplanes, Airport, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Boeing 787, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 787 Order, Boeing 787 Premiere, Boeing 787 Rollout, Boeing 787-10, Boeing 787-3, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Orders, Dreamliner, Dreamliner First Flight, Emirates, Farnborough Air Show 2008, Farnborough Airshow, FleetBuzz.com, Pat Shanahan, Qatar Airways
13 Comments Add your own
1. Aurora | October 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
US Airways won’t mind if the A350 slips! What was that cash “advance” all about? Was that the second or third loan EADS has granted to this struggling airline?
2. boeing investor | October 31st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
US Airways is a dead duck.
Now, if the silly IAM union does not vote in this new and improved deal tomorrow, the 787 will hurt even more.
Surely these guys should realize they are only hurting themselves by their near idiotic actions even after losing two months salary.
http://www.boeing.com/2008negotiations/doc/102208_denton_interview.mp3
Heck, Boeing is bringing work IN HOUSE now!
What more does the IAM/SPEEA want?!
3. Chris Wallace | October 31st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Well the A330 has benefited from the slips in the 787 program as well as continued improvement to it’s own product. The 777 program will no doubt benefit from the same, as well.
No 787 customer has yet canceled nor deferred delivery and some have been adding to their existing order book. And new customers continue to be added even with delivery targets over a decade away.
As such, even a multi-month or year slip in the EIS of the A350 is not likely to materially hurt it’s chances in the marketplace. Yes, the 777 carries more payload farther then an A350, but so do some models of the A330 vis-a-vis the 787. I expect EK to take their A350s, but I also expect them to take plenty more 77Ws and, perhaps, 77Ls in the interim.
4. johnny stick | October 31st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
After seeing the picture of the IAM negotiating team wearing t-shirts and reading the final ‘deal’, I have lost all respect for thier ability to negotiate a deal that benefits both Boeing and thier members. I am more convinced now that the IAM leaders are only looking after thier union’s own interest, not that of their members or Boeing. I wish those members who choose to move out of the state, following Boeing’s move of its assembly lines, the best of luck. The IAM members are the best in the world, I wish I could say the same for thier union leadership.
5. Jacobin777 | October 31st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I agree with Mr. Wallace…unless Airbus seriously messes up the A350 (which I don’t see happening), I think the A350XWB will do just fine. I also agree that if there is an A350 delay, it will help sales of other aircraft such as B777’s, B787’s and possibly A330’s.
6. 787MAT | October 31st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Ummm, IAM has BLUE shirts. ..that was SPEEA in the RED.
Nice fact check
7. keesje | October 31st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Big news.
- There is no new 787 drawback we know of.
- Its Oct 31st and still no freeze as announced last yrs for this 2013 EIS.
Lets embrace the moment.
8. bobbelieu | October 31st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Man, no matter how bad it gets at Boeing, Airbus seems to do worse. I think the last few years of bad decisions is catching up with them.
They were such a powerhouse in the 1990’s…but lately they’ve been on their collective tushes.
B~
9. Anon | October 31st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Um, okaaaay.
So we know that the bird can stop now.
But will it ever fly??
10. mike j | October 31st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Maybe Boeing and Airbus will merge, similar to the merger with McDonnell/Douglas, where MD then took over managing the show but keeping the Boeing name…
As far as 787, I’m still hoping it actually flies–whenever that is… AND to see if the new material hold up to the sunlight and weather outside, etc.
(Something a bit off topic, but still on 787, is the prior 787 Advertisements said it would have Larger Windows in the cabin area; they didn’t “look” any larger so about a year ago I went and actually measured these compared to 777 , 767 , 747 and 737 (these all same size), and 787 window are exactly the same width and only 3 inches taller in heighth… small trivia)
Well, hope 787 is as good as advertised after all these years of waiting, hope its not a “dud”, seeing how rather mismanaged the program has been thus far…
11. Angel/MT-4 | November 1st, 2008 at 6:23 am
To “Boeing Investor”:
Please read Post#48 on http://www.fleetbuzzeditorial.com/2008/10/28/boeingiamdeal/
12. L Gallois! | November 1st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
keesje
It’s now November 1st - guess what, no design freeze!
13. Kurt | November 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Another guess what, still problems with the fastners at Boeing - analysts suggest first 787 flight may be delayed to early next year and first delivery to Q1 2010.
http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=14579
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