787 milestone

Published 1:42 pm Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Boeing Co. and All Nippon Airways have completed 787 test flights that are meant to demonstrate how the Dreamliner will fly in commercial service, the companies said Tuesday.

Over the last week, ANA pilots, together with Boeing pilots, have flown the Dreamliner on routes from Seattle to Tokyo and Tokyo to four airports across Japan, including Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima. Maintenance and ground crews from ANA also gained experience with the airplane. ANA is the launch customer of Boeing’s 787.

“Giving our team a chance to work with the airplane prior to entry into service was very valuable,” said Katsunori Shimazaki, ANA corporate planning senior manager, in a statement. “Our crews are excited to begin operating the first 787 revenue flights later this year.”

Teams from ANA and Boeing validated more than 100 procedures, including towing the airplane, conducting checks of ground support equipment, staging electronic flight bag data and completing maintenance actions, among other activities.

The Dreamliner drew crowds at each of the airports it visited in Japan.

“It has been incredible to see the enthusiasm for the 787 every place we’ve gone,” said Scott Fancher, general manager of the 787 program.

Boeing plans to deliver the first 787 to ANA in August or September. ANA has 55 Dreamliners on order. ANA’s first scheduled service with the 787 will be either the Tokyo Haneda to Okayama or Tokyo Haneda to Hiroshima route.

Boeing is expected to provide an update on the Dreamliner during its quarterly earnings update, which likely will be held later this month.

Here’s a Boeing video on the 787’s stay in Japan: