Boeing has completed certification flight testing for the first delivery variant of its 787, finishing more than 4,800h and more than 25,000 test conditions.
Aircraft ZA102, operating as flight BOE102 with 14 aboard, completed its final scheduled systems function and reliability (F&R) flight trials at 13:58 local time on 13 August, clearing the way for final certification documentation submittals to the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The final day of certification flight trials for Boeing's first 787 variant with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Package A engines brought the aircraft to Salt Lake City, Utah and Billings, Montana before returning to Paine Field in Everett on a 90min sortie that simulated a dispatch with a failed generator and fuel flow indication.
At the controls of the final F&R mission was 787 chief pilot, Mike Carriker, who piloted the type's maiden flight 20 months ago.
"We are very pleased with the performance of the airplane during the function and reliability and extended operations testing over the last month," said Scott Fancher, 787 programme vice president.
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© Jon Ostrower |
The initial certification will provide Boeing regulatory approval for its 787 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Package A engines.
The second engine choice, the General Electric GEnx-1B, is expected to achieve certification in the fourth quarter.
Rolls-Royce plans to introduce a Package B upgrade for the Trent 1000 at the end of the year and a first Performance Improvement Package (PIP1) for the GEnx is expected at a later date.
ZA102, the ninth aircraft built, and the airframer's third production configuration aircraft, completed extended twin operations testing (ETOPS) on 3 August as part of a 300h block of F&R trials, which included an 18h 7min maximum endurance flight.
Boeing began flight testing on 15 December 2009, when ZA001 made its maiden sortie from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, more than two years later than planned.
The airframer said it plans to receive its FAA type certificate in August, with first delivery to All Nippon Airways to follow in September.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
