| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009 5:27 am |
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 Tix available to watch Boeing 787's first flight If you're worried about where you'll watch Boeing's 787 make its first flight, you can still get a reserved spot at the Future of Flight. The aviation center sits across Paine Field, where Boeing's Dreamliner will take to the skies. Although Boeing hasn't announced a date yet, the company is aiming to put its Dreamliner in the air before year's end. The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour will host a private event on its deck and in its gallery for people who have donated $250 or more to its foundation. There are still about 100 slots available, said Sandy Ward, marketing director for the Future of Flight. Aviation enthusiasts should make their donations prior to the first flight if they hope to get a ticket. Guests receive a VIP Parking pass, admission to the private party in the gallery of the Future of Flight where there will be food, mimosas and other beverages. Donors will watch the 787's first flight from the center's Strato Deck. Or they can stay indoors to watch the flight on live feed on a large screen. Only donors will have access to the gallery and the Strato Deck. Donors will also receive first flight momentos after the plane lands by picking them up at FoF or via mail. Don't want to fork over $250 per ticket? Go visit the Future of Flight's gift store for a chance to win two tickets. The aviation center also is offering free wine tastings daily from noon to 4 p.m., as well as free gift wrapping and discounts. For more information about winning tickets, visit the Future of Flight's special event page. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing's 787 begins 'final gauntlet' tests prior to first flight The Boeing Co. is putting its delayed 787 jet through one of the final set of tests leading up to first flight. Boeing confirmed Wednesday that it has begun "final gauntlet" tests on the first Dreamliner in Everett. The tests are expected to last a couple of days, according to an email from Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter. The company called off the 787's first flight in June after discovering a flaw in the area where the jet's wings and body join. Boeing finished installing a modification on its first 787 last month and wrapped up static tests on the jet last month. Those results, which are necessary to clear the jet for first flight, are expected shortly. While it awaits those results, Boeing has gone ahead with further testing on its mostly composite Dreamliner. The purpose of the final gauntlet tests is to verify the flight readiness of our systems, Gunter wrote. Boeing is retesting in areas where it has made improvements to the systems software over the last several months. The Dreamliner still needs to complete taxiing tests as well before first flight, which could take place as early as next week. Boeing is racing to get its 787 in the air by year's end, the date Boeing officials promised earlier this year. Several setbacks have caused Boeing to delay its popular Dreamliner by more than two years. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing completes 747-8 engine tests The Boeing Co. has completed an engine run test on its new 747-8 Freighter, the company said Wednesday. "We are very pleased with the engines' performance during this test," said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 program. "The engines and all the systems performed as expected." Boeing began the engine run at 10 a.m., yesterday here in Everett. The engine run test began with the auxiliary power system providing power to start the first of four General Electric GEnx-2B engines. The engines are run at varying levels of power during the test to make sure everything performs as expected. Basic systems checks continued throughout the test. The engines were powered down and inspected and will be restarted following a technical review. The team completed a vibration check and monitored the shutdown logic to ensure it functioned as expected. "This milestone is an exciting one for the GEnx-2B team and we anticipate the engines will continue the same high performance that we have experienced in our ground and flight tests," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx Program at GE Aviation. Boeing has said its 747-8 Freighter will make its first flight early next year. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Boeing's McNerney visits S.C. factory Boeing's Jim McNerney toured the company's 787 parts factory in South Carolina on Friday, reports The Post and Courier. Boeing's chief executive had not visited the area in the months before the company picked North Charleston as the site of its second 787 assembly line. McNerney didn't attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the 787 factory last month. The facility is supposed to bring up to 3,800 permanent jobs to the region and 2,000 construction jobs. Subcontractors were lining up in Charleston on Tuesday in hopes of landing work there. Back in Everett, Boeing is readying its delayed 787 for first flight. Aviation Week reports that gauntlet tests are underway on the first Dreamliner. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Copa Airlines increases order for Boeing 737s Panama's Copa Airlines is increasing its order of Boeing Co. 737s by two, the carrier said Tuesday. The airline placed an order for Boeing single-aisle aircraft in July with options. Today's order increases Copa's total order to 15 this year. Copa said these two 737-800s will be delivered in the second half of 2010. "The Next-Generation 737 plays a major role in achieving our goal of offering our passengers world-class service, the most extensive route network in Latin America and one of the youngest fleets in the continent," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Ryanair: Deal likely off for 200 Boeing jets It looks like Ryanair won't buy 200 Boeing aircraft after all. In media interviews Tuesday, Ryanair's chief executive said that talks with Boeing for a 200-jet deal have broken down. The Ireland-based airline planned to use the jets to expand in 2013. But the low-cost carrier may be forced to scrap its plans if it can't reach an agreement with the Chicago-based Boeing by next Thursday, when Ryanair's board meets. "We have effectively almost reached agreement on price for a 200-aircraft order ... but the deal is unlikely to take place because now they want to go back and change delivery conditions," Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO, told Reuters in an interview. Ryanair has no plans to turn to Airbus instead, O'Leary said. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment United orders 25 787s, A350s United Airlines has placed orders for 25 Boeing Co. 787s and 25 Airbus A350 jets, the airline said Tuesday. This marks the first time in the airline's history that it has ordered widebody jets from Airbus. It's also the first new order for United since 1998. And the airline hasn't taken delivery of a new aircraft since 2002. "This aircraft order is another significant step on the path to position United for long-term success in a highly competitive global market," said Glenn Tilton, UAL Corporation chairman, president and CEO. United also has purchase rights for an additional 50 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. The airline expects to take delivery of the aircraft between 2016 and 2019. United will retire its international Boeing 747s and 767s when it receives the new airplanes. Boeing said in a a statement that it's working to finalize the deal with United. “United's selection of the Boeing 787 continues the 80-year partnership between our two companies,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. This is one of the few new orders that Boeing has received this year for its delayed 787 Dreamliner. After numerous setbacks, the company plans to fly the jet for the first time as early as next week. But delays have cost Boeing 83 cancelations for its fuel-efficient jet this year. Boeing hopes to deliver the first 787 in the fourth quarter of 2010. Airbus expects to deliver its first A350 in 2013. "United Airlines is a global icon, and it's very gratifying that they have chosen the A350 to be a key part of their strategy," said Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders, in a statement. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Future of Flight spotlights Boeing 707 and 727, Comet Mukilteo's Future of Flight is featuring a “Nose to Tail” series through Dec. 22. The aviation center's special projects manager and resident aviation specialist Ed Kaplanian will conduct tours geared toward the history and performance of three aircraft: The de Havilland Comet, the Boeing Co.'s 707 and 727 jets. The tours run 45 minutes to an hour. The cost of the special tours is included in general admission to the Future of Flight. For dates and times of each tour, see the Future of Flight's Web page. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Boeing's stock has hit a 52-week high today as momentum builds in the company's 787 jet program. After more than two years of delay, Boeing is poised to fly its 787 Dreamliner by year's end as promised by company officials. Boeing's shares closed up 2.1 percent today at $55.83 after hitting a high of $55.95. The aerospace company's previous high was $55.48. Back in 2007, after Boeing rolled out its new 787, shares exceeded $107. The company's Dreamliner could take to the skies as early as next week. Over the past week, aviation writers and enthusiasts have peppered the Web with possible first flight dates: Dec. 14, 15, 18, 19 and 22. Boeing should have results soon from the 787's static test, which wrapped up last week. Those results are essential in clearing the Dreamliner for flight. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Korean Air to buy Boeing 747-8 passenger planes Korean Air will buy five 747-8 passenger planes in a key deal for Boeing's jumbo jet program. It has been three years since Boeing has won orders from a commercial airline for its revamped 747-8 passenger plane. Korean Air's order, worth $1.5 billion at list prices, gives the program a crucial second customer. The tentative deal, reported by Reuters, comes after a recent visit to the country by U.S. President Barack Obama. Korean Air also announced in October that it will provide wing components on the 747-8. Since launching its 747-8 "Intercontinental" passenger plane, Boeing has received requests for just 27 jets -- 20 from Germany's Lufthansa and seven from undisclosed private VIP buyers. The company's freighter version of the 747-8, which is set to debut first, has enjoyed greater commercial success with 78 orders. The freighter is set to take its first flight early next year with first delivery by the end of 2010. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Airbus wins order for 52 single-aisle jets Airbus' backlog got a boost last month when an unnamed customer ordered 52 of its single-aisle A320 jets. The request lifts Airbus' net order tally to 194 through the first 11 months of 2009, the company said Thursday. The European jet maker leads rival Boeing in net orders this year. Boeing, which updates its orders Web site weekly, lists 93 net orders through Dec. 1. Boeing won an order for two 737s in the last week from an unidentified customer. Airbus has delivered 437 aircraft through the end of November. Boeing has delivered 430 jets this year. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Northrop Grumman's warning that it won't compete for the Air Force's tanker contract continues to generate buzz this morning. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hopes Northrop will remain in the $35 billion contest with the Boeing Co. to replace the Air Force's fleet of 179 KC-135 tankers, reports Reuters. U.S. Rep. John Murtha, who chairs the House defense appropriations committee, told reporters that “there must be competition” for the tanker contract, according to DoDBuzz. Murtha's comments throw cold water on any hopes that the Pentagon might just hand Boeing the contract by default. UPDATE: Gates' comments are captured on the You Tube video below, which also is posted on Northrop's tanker Web site. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Are you an aviation geek? If so, the Future of Flight has a deal for you. The aviation center in Mukilteo is hosting an “Aviation Geekfest” this Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. Besides getting to go on an extended tour of Boeing's widebody jet factory, attendees can win prizes including tickets to the 787's first flight, gift cards from Alaska Air and a wooden model of an Alaska Airlines 737. Tickets go on sale today at noon. The event is free but is limited to the first 48 participants. For more information, visit the event site. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Ala. Gov.: Obama administration 'corrupted' tanker contest Alabama Gov. Bob Riley lashed out at the Obama administration today after Northrop Grumman threatened to drop out of a tanker contest that could have brought jobs to Riley's state. "All Americans should be outraged that the Obama administration has corrupted the tanker selection process with a blatantly unfair competition," Riley said, in a statement. Northrop and partner EADS planned to assemble their tanker in Mobile, Ala., should the Air Force select it over Boeing's offering for the $35 billion contest. "All along, we’ve said the process should be fair and the needs of our warfighters must come first. That definitely isn’t happening," Riley said. "The question is why is this RFP so radically different than the one Northrop Grumman won last year?” Northrop's CEO alleged in a letter sent to Pentagon officials today that the contest favored Boeing's smaller tanker. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Northrop threatens to shun AF tanker contest Northrop Grumman is threatening to drop out of the Air Force tanker competition with the Boeing Co. unless the Pentagon makes significant changes to its rules. In a letter addressed to the Pentagon's acquisitions chief, Northrop's CEO said the Air Force has declined to make changes to its draft requirements. The Air Force is expected to issue its final rules shortly and announce the contest winner next summer. But Northrop's Wes Bush suggested Tuesday that the Pentagon shows a "clear preference" for Boeing's smaller tanker. The Air Force's demands place "contractual and financial burdens on the company that we simply cannot accept," Bush wrote. “As a result, I must regrettably inform you that, absent a responsive set of changes in the final RFP, Northrop Grumman has determined that it cannot submit a bid,” he wrote. The letter, dated Dec. 1, was obtained by Inside Defense. This is the Pentagon's third attempt at replacing its KC-135 fleet of tankers. The contract to do so is worth roughly $35 billion. Boeing has said it is considering offering the Air Force either a tanker based off its 767 commercial jet or its 777 jet, or both. This is not the first time that Northrop Grumman has threatened not to compete in an Air Force tanker contest. During the Pentagon's last attempt at replacing 179 of its KC-135 tankers, Northrop also suggested it would drop out of the competition, saying then the contest favored Boeing. The Air Force awarded the $35 billion deal to Northrop but eventually called off the contract after government auditors found numerous flaws in the contest. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that Northrop, and its partner EADS, just wants the Air Force to favor the duo's KC-30 tanker, which is based off an Airbus A330 jet. "Today's threat by Airbus to drop out of the tanker competition unless the rules are changed in their favor is no surprise," Murray said, in a statement. "This is a new competition, but the players are the same and Airbus is up to its same old tricks." Northrop and EADS have said they would assemble their tanker in Mobile, Ala. EADS also said it would move some Airbus A330 Freighter work to the state as well, should the Air Force pick their tanker. Both Boeing's 767 and 777 jets are assembled here in Everett. Finishing work on the tankers may be completed in Wichita, Kan. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Boeing finishes 787 wing test, awaits results for first flight The Boeing Co. has completed a significant test on its delayed 787 jet and is waiting results to clear the Dreamliner for its first flight. In June, Boeing announced a last-minute delay to the first flight of its 787 Dreamliner citing a structural weakness in the area where the jet's wings and body join. Boeing called the weakness a design flaw and devised a fix. Workers in Everett finished installing the modification on the first, second and static test 787s earlier this month. On Monday, the company concluded a test on the wing area that will determine whether the modification worked. The company said it will take up to 10 days for the test results to be finished. "Today's test was an important milestone for the program. We will confirm the test results after the completion of our detailed analysis," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. Boeing officials have promised that the 787 will fly by the end of the year with the first delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing CEO to attend Obama’s job summit Boeing CEO Jim McNerney is expected to attend the president’s jobs summit later this week, according to this report. The Obama administration has called business leaders to the White House to discuss ways to boost employment. The meeting will take place on Thursday. Boeing’s McNerney will join chief executives from FedEx, AT&T and Google at the meeting. For more on the jobs’ summit, read this WSJ story. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Two views on unions and Boeing After recently landing Boeing's second 787 production line, South Carolina lawmakers are intent on promoting their state, particularly its low union presence, to other businesses. In today's Post and Courier, S.C. lawmakers say they'll defend the state if the federal government tries to push union rights on it. "There is always going to be a right to organize," Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, a Charleston Democrat, told the publication. "In South Carolina, we have set a standard that people have a right to not organize. I don't think anything the federal government is going to do will change that." Here in Washington state, Crosscut published this piece about the possibility of strengthening union rights in all states, including South Carolina. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Air Force steps up pace on tanker Q&A The Air Force has been burning the midnight oil, answering questions from Boeing and Northrop Grumman about its tanker requirements. This week, the Pentagon has posted roughly 80 pages worth of responses to comments and questions by the two lead competitors for the lucrative contract. The Air Force had planned to release its final tanker requirements as early as the end of November, though the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer wouldn’t commit to that date earlier this week. The Air Force has been responding steadily to the queries by Boeing and Northrop since releasing the draft requirements in late September. The agency hopes to award the contract next summer. To view the Air Force's draft RFP and its Q&A with suppliers, go to FedBizOpps.gov. ... [Read More]
E-mail | Print | Comment Pan Am 747 honored in man's garage How big of an aviation buff are you? Anthony Tuff loved flying so much as a child that, as an adult, he's replicating the cabin of a Boeing 747, flown by Pan Am, in his garage. Tuff, 42, is an executive for United Airlines. This ABC News story tells his tale. For video of Tuff's feat, watch this. Toth picked Pan Am's 747 because it reminded him of international trips he used to take to see relatives. “Ultimately, Pan Am was a pioneer for so many things that we take for granted today," Toth said. "People today travel from point A to point B and it's really more about affordable transportation. Back then, travel was really more about the journey. I guess deep down inside that's what I'm trying to recreate, is that whole aura of how great travel was back then." ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
State gives $250k to SnoCo. aerospace center Snohomish County has received a $250,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce for its new aerospace training center at Paine Field. The grant was announced Tuesday. The county said earlier this month that it was seeking as much as $500,000 for upgrades including resurfacing the parking lot, adding signs and buying technical equipment. The county-owned building is being leased to the Aerospace Futures Alliance, which signed an operating agreement with Edmonds Community College. The commerce department awarded $1.5 million to innovation-related projects in the state. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Northrop: Boeing's 767 ‘no longer commercially viable' Northrop Grumman, Boeing's rival for a lucrative U.S. Air Force tanker contract, recently weighed in on whether an international trade ruling should be considered in the contest. Boeing and its supporters in Congress have argued adamantly that the Air Force should penalize the bid put forth by Northrop and its partner EADS in light of a World Trade Organization preliminary ruling against Airbus. Northrop and EADS will use an Airbus A330 as the platform for their Air Force tanker. On its new tanker Web site, Northrop praises this Defense News piece, written by Joel Johnson, a defense consultant who has worked with Northrop. Johnson writes that penalizing Northrop and EADS would be a mistake. Johnson dismisses the argument that Boeing's KC-767 would boost America's industrial base, writing: “But a win for Boeing would simply prolong a production line of the 767 in Seattle. The 767 is obsolete and unattractive to commercial airlines, which is why Boeing decided to spend more than $10 billion to develop a replacement - the 787. “A win by Northrop Grumman would result in the establishment of an assembly line for both the tanker and freighter version of the A330 … and would establish a new center of aerospace excellence in the Southeast.” Northrop reiterates Johnson's point: “In other words, Northrop Grumman offers to create new jobs building the tanker preferred throughout most of the world. The competitor offers to continue a line of planes that are no longer commercially viable to provide a tanker that has already been rejected by Australia, the United Kingdom, and other wealthy nations.” The vice president for Boeing's Machinists union got in his take on the WTO-tanker debate, and President Barack Obama's role, in this editorial. ... [Read More]
E-mail | Print | Comment US Airways pushes out Airbus deliveries US Airways has deferred delivery of 54 Airbus jets in an effort to improve its cash flow, the airline said today. The Airbus jets were scheduled to be delivered between 2010 and 2012. But US Airways has asked for those deliveries to be pushed back to 2013. “These moves are part of our continuing efforts to improve our balance sheet and return the company to profitability,” said US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. These deferral arrangements will reduce the company’s aircraft capital expenditures over the next three years by approximately $2.5 billion, and reduce near- and medium-term obligations to Airbus and others by approximately $132 million. US Airways also will defer deliveries of its A350 XWB jets to 2017 from 2015. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Airbus lands more A330 Freighter orders Airbus has won two more orders for its A330 Freighter. Turkish Airlines has ordered two of the A330 cargo jets, Airbus said today in a press statement. The new request brings Airbus' order total for its new freighter to 69 firm orders from 10 customers. Airbus flew its A330 Freighter for the first time on Nov. 5. The company plans to deliver the first freighter next year. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Boeing, SPEEA wrangle over education benefits The Boeing Co. and its engineers union can't agree over education benefits. In September, Boeing said it would make changes to its tuition-reimbursement program this year. Employees will be reimbursed only for work-related courses. And the company will set some tuition caps and require workers in certain educational programs to remain with the company for a set amount of time following the completion of their degrees. At the time of Boeing's announcement, its unions said the changes didn't apply to their members due to labor contracts already in place. Nearly two months later, Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace remain at odds over the education benefits. The union says Boeing is trying to make cuts to a benefit that's already covered in their contract, thus violating labor law. The company says the tuition reimbursement plan isn't explicitly covered in the contract with SPEEA. In a letter to SPEEA, Boeing's Jeffrey Janders gives union leaders until Nov. 30 to “bargain” over the program. Janders notes that the program is “clearly not in the contract” but could be part of mid-term negotiations if the union wants to do so. In an email to other union leaders, SPEEA's executive director, Ray Goforth, said he had offered to hold off-the-record “discussions” with Boeing but said the union has no duty to bargain a benefit it already has. The two sides seem “poised on the brink” of litigation, Goforth wrote, adding that Boeing “chose the path of conflict.” ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Dicks: Add $5M to Northrop's tanker bid One of Boeing's biggest supporters in Congress wants to add as much as $5 million to Northrop-EADS' U.S. Air Force tanker bid. The Air Force is trying for the third time to replace its aging fleet of KC-135 tankers. It released its draft requirements for its tanker fleet in late September but immediately ran into troubles with its two bidders. Boeing and its supporters want the Air Force to weigh a trade ruling against Airbus in its competition. EADS is Airbus' parent company. Northrop and EADS are using an Airbus' A330 as the basis for their tanker. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., is arguing that the Air Force should add as much as $5 million per tanker to Northrop-EADS' bid, according to Reuters. Boeing would build its tanker in Washington. The Air Force says the World Trade Organization ruling is still preliminary, so it won't consider the ruling. Plus, Airbus has a counter-complaint against Boeing pending with the WTO. For its part, Northrop and EADS are upset with the Air Force for giving Boeing its tanker pricing information during the last contest in 2008. The Air Force said the info isn't relevant, but it did ask Boeing to release similar info to Northrop-EADS. Boeing said no. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
The Boeing Co.'s first 747-8 Freighter has been painted. The cargo jet left the paint hangar in Everett last night. Painted in a "light" livery -- white with blue accents, the 747-8 Freighter unveiled a new twist on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery. It features an oversized "8" on the background of the tail as well as "747-8" on the belly. The light livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight-test program is completed. After flight test, it will be refurbished and delivered to a customer. Boeing plans to fly the freighter for the first time in early 2010. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Two lawsuits over 787 ‘without merit,' Boeing says The Boeing Co. faces two lawsuits over its delayed 787 Dreamliner. Although the company deems the lawsuits “without merit,” Boeing says it will defend itself “vigorously," according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Last week, a firm filed a lawsuit in northern Illinois over the 787. Yesterday, another law firm filed a similar complaint in southern Illinois. Both essentially are complaining that Boeing executives gave misleading statements this summer when they assured investors the 787 would fly by the end of June. Within days of making those statements, Boeing halted the Dreamliner's first flight. Boeing's stock dropped 6.5 percent the first day and another 6 percent the following day. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing scores 737 orders in Dubai The Boeing Co. landed orders for its 737 single aisle aircraft on the third day of the Dubai Air Show. Air Algerie placed an order for seven 737-800s, Boeing announced Tuesday. The carrier, based Algeria, will have 22 Next Generation 737s with the new order. "Our purchase of Boeing 737-800s is a natural progression for Air Algérie," said Abdelwahid Bouabdallah, CEO of the carrier. "The 737-800 adds great value to our fleet because it is very high-tech and reliable. Reduced operating and maintenance costs mean our airplanes spend less time on the ground and more time in the air making money." Tassili Airlines, also based in Algeria, also placed an order for 737-800s. "Tassili's selection of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 is a testament to the airplane's versatility, range and other performance factors," said Marty Bentrott, Boeing's sales vice president in the region. "We offered a comprehensive package to support its unique employee-transport needs, including spares, support equipment, ground-handling equipment, tooling and training." Boeing's rival Airbus, which already announced orders for its A320s and A350s, also announced an order for two A380s on Tuesday. The order came from Air Austral, based in Saint Denis, La Reunion. The carrier will configure the superjumbo jet to seat 840 passengers. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Airbus A350 orders top 500 Among the orders that Airbus has collected at the Dubai Air Show is request for A350s that pushes the jet over the 500-order mark. Ethiopian Airlines placed an order for 12 A350 XWBs, which puts the firm order total for Airbus' new jet at 505. “The A350 will serve our market well, and I think this initial order will be the beginning of a very long relationship with Airbus,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake during an afternoon press conference at the air show. “It is a very good start for a long journey together.” Ethiopian Airlines is the 32nd A350 customer. Airbus also picked up an order for 10 A320s from Yemenia Airlines. And Comlux has ordered another Airbus Corporate Jet. So far, Boeing hasn't announced any new orders at the air show. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
The Boeing Co. has finished modifications on two more 787s as the company races to put the Dreamliner in the air by year's end. Over the weekend, workers in Everett finished reinforcing a structural weakness on the the static test aircraft and the second 787 flight test airplane, Boeing said Monday. The company completed modifications to the first flight test aircraft last week. "Our focus now is on completing the static test later this month, which will validate the modification," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "Concurrently we are restoring the airplanes and completing the functional tests required to fly by the end of the year." Boeing discovered a weakness in the 787's side-of-body area shortly before the jet was supposed to make its first flight in June. The company postponed the Dreamliner's first flight for the fifth time. But Boeing officials say the 787 will fly before Jan. 1 and that the first Dreamliner will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2010, more than two years late. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Lawsuit brewing over Boeing's 787 The Boeing Co. could face a class action lawsuit over its 787 Dreamliner, reports Dow Jones Newswire. The complaint, filed on behalf of an institutional investor, alleges that Boeing's executives made false and misleading claims about the 787's schedule earlier this year. Boeing has fallen more than two years behind schedule on the 787. The company postponed the Dreamliner's first flight in June, shortly after giving assurances that the mostly composite jet would fly by July 1. Just yesterday, Boeing said it had installed the structural reinforcements on the first 787. Boeing says the Dreamliner will fly by year's end. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Are airlines afraid of the number 13? It's Friday the 13th. That led Airline Reporter's David Parker Brown to look into airlines' (and passengers') superstitions about the number 13. He found several airlines, including Air France, Continental, Ryanair and Air New Zealand, do not have a 13th row. Airlines aren't alone in shunning things numbered 13. Many hotels also refrain from using "13" for floor levels. ... [Read More]
E-mail | Print | Comment New problem with 787? Yesterday, the Boeing Co. confirmed that it had finished installing the structual reinforcements needed on its first 787 Dreamliner. Today, the Wall Street Journal, in this story, describes a how a new problem was uncovered with the 787 while fixing the last one. Boeing told the publication that the Dreamliner remains on track to fly by year's end. Dec. 22 is the anticipated date of first flight. In this blog post, Boeing's Randy Tinseth discusses the 787's progress. Several readers question Boeing's process -- of fixing airplane one before validating the fix on the static test plane -- and ask about the WSJ story in the comments section. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Boeing towed its first 747-8 Freighter outside the factory here in Everett on Thursday. “It is very rewarding to see this airplane transition to the flight test phase,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager. Boeing is expected to put its 747-8 Freighter in the air early next year. The first freighter will be delivered to Cargolux. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
The Boeing Co. has finished installing the fix on its new 787 jet, which it plans to fly by year's end. “Completing this work is a significant step toward first flight,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We continue to be pleased with the progress of the team and remain confident the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will occur before the end of the year.” Boeing postponed the first flight of its mostly composite 787 jet in June, after finding a structural weakness in the airplane's side-of-body area. Workers at the company's Everett factory have been modifying the first 787 aircraft to strengthen the side. The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage. The modifications were completed yesterday, Boeing said. The company expects to complete the installations on the static test airframe and the second flight-test airplane in the coming days. "We will test the modification on the full-scale static test airframe later this month,” Fancher said. “As soon as we confirm the loads are being handled appropriately in the joint we will complete preflight activities on the airplane.” After modifications are complete on the static test airframe, it will be refitted with strain gauges and instrumentation required for testing. Boeing also is restoring access doors, systems, seals and fasteners that were removed from the first 787. When that task is finished, the flight-test team will perform another set of gauntlet and taxi tests to ensure that all systems are ready for flight. Fancher noted that with the exception of a single high-speed taxi test, all remaining flight-test activities have been successfully completed on the first flight-test airplane. Overall, the work on modifying airplanes is progressing well, Fancher said. Boeing has won 850 orders for its 787 Dreamliner and expects to deliver the first aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2010, more than two years late. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing to break ground in SC next week The Boeing Co. has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony next week for its new 787 facility in South Carolina. Last month, Boeing picked Charleston, S.C., as the site of its second 787 assembly line over Everett, the location of its wide body factory and original 787 line. Earlier this year, Boeing bought out supplier Vought's 787 parts factory in Charleston. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Fri., Nov. 20. Boeing's new facility will be located near the Charleston International Airport. The company intends to have the second line operational in 2011. Boeing's all-new fuel-efficient 787 has won 850 orders. But the company has fallen more than two years behind schedule in delivering the mostly composite Dreamliner. Boeing has said the 787 will make its first flight by the end of the year. For more about the construction jobs, and traffic concerns Boeing's factory is bringing to South Carolina, read this. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Boeing brings construction jobs, traffic concerns to SC The Post and Courier has a story this morning on Boeing's new 787 facility in South Carolina. In October, Boeing picked Charleston over Everett as the home of its second 787 production site. The company plans to break ground at its new South Carolina location next Friday. The contractors have been given 22 months to build the factory. That could mean between 600 and 700 construction jobs at the peak, Luther Cochrane, CEO for contractor BE&K told the newspaper. And here's where it gets interesting: Those construction workers will add “to the traffic in an already highly traveled corridor that includes the airport, a major shopping destination, hotels and the Charleston Area Convention Center.” The Charleston County Council is meeting today to determine whether to spend $150,000 for a study on how to address traffic near Boeing's new site. I'm sure many readers will remember that Boeing and local government officials butted heads in the early 1990s when Boeing's 777 expansion meant $50 million in transportation and infrastructure costs. Also check out the reader comments to the Post and Courier story for locals' reaction to the traffic issue and their concerns about who will get those construction jobs. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment |
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