Boeing is gaining confidence that it will have orders for up to 500 7E7s, or around one-fifth of the total expected 20-year market forecast for the model, by the time it delivers the first aircraft to All Nippon Airways in mid-2008. The majority of the tally, which is comparable with the 728 Next Generation 737s on the orderbook when the first 737-700 was delivered to Southwest Airlines, is expected to be made up of the 7E7-3/8 versions at this early stage.
Meanwhile, Boeing is believed to have selected Smiths Aerospace, the supplier of the 7E7's Common Core System, to provide the landing gear steering and actuation system - one of the last major systems still to be finalised. Smiths, which says it has not been notified about the winner of the contract, was bidding against stiff competition from Goodrich and Messier-Bugatti.
This group of companies, as well as Dunlop Aerospace, are also likely to bid for the forthcoming electric brake requirement, which is widely expected to be issued in early June. This represents the first major use of electric brakes on any large aircraft, although some simple electric systems have previously seen limited use on projects such as the X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle.
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Source: Flight International
