Boeing offers 787 parts program, but delivery questions linger

The Boeing Co. has announced a parts exchange program for airline customers when its 787 enters service.

But the question remains: when will the Dreamliner be delivered?

Boeing is insisting that it will deliver the first 787 in February in accordance with its most recent schedule.

But speculation is growing that increased rework puts the 787 delivery schedule in jeopardy.

Boeing’s 787 is nearly three years behind schedule.

After the company delivers its 787, Boeing has made available a parts exchange service, which the company announced Wednesday.

“The program manages configuration, warranty and reliability for the covered parts, freeing the airline to focus on passengers and the operation of the airplane,” said Dale Wilkinson, Boeing’s vice president, material services.

With the Boeing 787 Rotable Exchange Program, the airline removes a part from the airplane and ships it for exchange with a new unit from Boeing’s exchange pool. Boeing plans to support up to 600 high-value rotable parts, including such items as the Auxiliary Power Unit and Variable Frequency Starter Generator. By providing coverage for parts typically priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the exchange program can provide considerable inventory cost savings for airlines.