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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Boeing confirms new delay in 787's first flight, delivery 1/16/08 • Boeing may again delay Dreamliner's first flight 1/15/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Safeguards to make 787 hacker-proof Boeing must prove the jet isn't vulnerable, FAA says By Michelle Dunlop Herald Writer EVERETT -- Federal regulators will keep a close eye on safeguards the Boeing Co. puts in place on its new 787 Dreamliner jet to ward off computer hackers. Last week, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration imposed special conditions for systems and data network security used on Boeing's 787-8 Dreamliner. Boeing's first new jet in more than a decade, the 787 offers a larger array of in-flight entertainment and Internet options for passengers than typical commercial planes. Therefore, Boeing needs to ensure the 787 systems aren't vulnerable to "intentional or unintentional corruption of data critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane," the FAA wrote. This is a scenario for which Boeing has been preparing, said Lori Gunter, a spokeswoman with the 787 program. The company has been working with the FAA to meet airworthiness standards. "The solution already has been developed," Gunter said. Boeing will get a chance to test out its solution during the 787's flight test program, which begins with the first flight of the Dreamliner. Boeing plans to have the initial 787 in the air before the end of March. The company anticipates delivering the first Dreamliner in November or December. It will need the FAA's approval before the 787 enters commercial service. "We're very confident in our understanding of the need for security and our ability to meet the requirements," Gunter said. The FAA declined to incorporate a suggestion made by the Air Line Pilots Association. The international group recommended as a backup that the flight crew be able to disable passenger access to certain systems. The FAA said it would "prefer not to dictate" the way Boeing meets the safety requirements. The agency also addressed comments submitted by Boeing's commercial jet rival, Airbus, about the security of the Dreamliner's systems. The Toulouse, France-based company said the FAA's special conditions for the Dreamliner "leave too much room for interpretation." Boeing broke with tradition with its 787 both in the jet's exterior and its systems. The FAA has a standard set of safety requirements developed for more mainstream jets. Any significant design aspect that deviates from the standard is reviewed by the FAA as a special condition. The agency determines safety regulations for that unusual aspect of the new jet. For example, Boeing makes its 787 mostly from carbon fiber composite material. The standard structure of airplanes is aluminum. Boeing has to demonstrate that the composites are sound for flight. Gunter estimates the FAA has issued eight or nine special conditions for the Dreamliner. Boeing tried to work with the FAA on special conditions well in advance of the first flight, learning from its experience in seeking flight-worthiness certifications for the Next Generation 737. The process took longer because the company and the FAA hadn't agreed on how to meet certain requirements in advance. Analysts frequently have pointed to Boeing's tight flight-test schedule as a point of concern. Although jet makers have tended to speed up certification with each new plane, Boeing has condensed its flight-test program in combination with introducing new systems and materials and a new production line. The 777, which incorporated composites into about 12 percent of its structure, first flew in June 1994. Boeing needed about 10 months to obtain FAA certification for the twin-aisle, Everett-built plane. In contrast, the 787 has about seven months to get the FAA's approval. Not only does Boeing have less time to respond to any problems that crop up in flight test, but the company will have dozens of planes built that will need to be fixed if any trouble arises. When Boeing ran into trouble with the 787 last September, the company pushed back delivery of the first 787 by six months. In order to catch itself up in deliveries by the end of 2009, Boeing intends to continue assembling 787s at a rapid pace during flight test. Since its launch, the 787 has won 817 orders from 53 customers and is regarded as Boeing's fastest selling commercial airplane on record. Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.

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