Delivery of the long-awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner has slipped to the third quarter of 2011, following an in-flight fire during testing late last year.
Prior to the incident the first delivery had been expected early this year, but the fire on board a test aircraft last November means Boeing have once again had to delay the Dreamliner’s launch.
In a statement the aircraft manufacturer said that the new delivery date “includes the time required to produce, install and test updated software and new electrical power distribution panels in the flight test and production airplanes”.
Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 programme said that Boeing had also “restored some margin in the schedule to allow for any additional time that may be needed to complete certification activities”.
Four Dreamliner test aircraft are now back in the skies following “extensive ground testing and a thorough review to ensure their readiness to return to flight”, with two further aircraft due to restart test flights “in the days ahead”.
The launch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has experienced numerous setbacks over the last few years, including a strike at Boeing’s manufacturing plant in Seattle in 2009, and the lack of availability of Rolls Royce engines needed for the final stages of flight tests last year (see online news August 27, 2010). Japanese carrier ANA is the launch customer for the aircraft.
Boeing said that the revised delivery date is not expected to have a material impact on 2010 financial results, adding that financial guidance and anticipated initial Dreamliner deliveries for 2011 will be discussed in the company’s earnings call on January 26.
For more information visit boeing.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
