Boeing unveiled the 787 Dreamliner on July 8th, 2007. 7/8/07 seemed like a lucky day for the aircraft manufacturer and it's enthusiastic airline customers. Unfortunately the aircraft that rolled out that day was not ready to fly.
Delays in fastener production and glitches in flight software pushed the first flight back to late 2007. Deliveries to first airline customer, ANA of Japan were said to remain on target however for May, 2008.
Not so now. Boeing today issued a press release indicating that the delays continue and the impact to development of the first production aircraft necessitated a push in flight schedule as well as first delivery. All Nippon Airways regrettably wont get its first Dreamliner until the Fall of 08.
It is ironic to me that an airplane as well designed and as complex as the 787 will be delayed by availability of screws and rivets, the most basic part of any airplane. Demand for the Dreamliner is at an all time high because it's predecessor, the B767, is reaching the end of its passenger service life within the next few years. Major airlines are ordering the 787 as a high tech replacement in record numbers with large orders from airlines like Delta still outstanding. Delta will decide between the Dreamliner and an Airbus product during the fourth quarter this year.
Boeing (BA) on Oct. 10 issued the following press release:
The Boeing Co. today announced a six-month delay in its planned initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner due to continued challenges completing assembly of the first airplanes.
Deliveries of the strong-selling Dreamliner are now slated to begin in late November or December, 2008, vs. an original target of May, 2008. First flight is now anticipated around the end of first quarter 2008.
The company said the financial impact of the delay would not be material to earnings and that its earnings guidance for 2007 and 2008 remained unchanged.
"We are disappointed over the schedule changes that we are announcing
today," said Boeing Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney.
"Notwithstanding the challenges that we are experiencing in bringing
forward this game-changing product, we remain confident in the design
of the 787, and in the fundamental innovation and technologies that
underpin it."
Early last month Boeing announced a delay in the planned first
flight of the 787, citing ongoing challenges with out-of-sequence
production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and
systems integration activities. The company also acknowledged
increasing risk to the delivery schedule, indicating that the margin to
accommodate unexpected issues had been eliminated. The newly revised
schedule for first flight and first delivery addresses the production
challenges and restores margin for the program to deal with issues that
may be uncovered in final ground or flight testing. Boeing also said
today that flight control software and systems integration activities
are not keeping pace with items in the revised schedule for first
flight.
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