Boeing is now making back-up plans in case the 787 first flight slips to early October from a previous window of late August to late September, Boeing chief executive Jim McNerney said 25 July.
But delivery of the first 787 to All Nippon Airways in May 2008 remains possible, McNerney says, even if the already compressed flight test schedule shortens to seven months. By comparison, Boeing completed the flight test schedule for the 777 programme in 11 months.
“We do have contingency plans if it moves beyond September into October, if we need them,” he says. “But that’s not the plan.”
Boeing’s goal is to test and deliver the first 787 in record time for a modern airliner programme. Six flight test aircraft will be operated at higher rates compared to previous programs to complete certification on schedule.
Meanwhile, program delays caused by supply chain shortages have prompted Boeing to invest an additional $300 million to $500 million in research and development (R&D) spending in 2007.
The company also disclosed that next year’s $2.8 billion to $3 billion R&D budget may not be enough if any surprises arise in the 787 flight test period.
Most of the money is being invested into Boeing’s Tier 1 suppliers, which, with the exception of Spirit AeroSystems, have struggled to keep pace with the programme’s development schedule.
Several sections of the 787 were shipped to Boeing’s final assembly center held together by thousands of temporary fasteners, each of which has to be removed and replaced with production versions before first flight.
Boeing is in the midst of installing the 787’s electric systems and software for power-on originally scheduled in mid-August, McNerney says.
The 787 made its public debut at a July 8 ceremony in Everett, Washington, with 677 orders. The Airbus response with the A350 XWB may focus on targeting the 777 fleet, but, so far, Boeing plans to take no action.
Boeing CFO James Bell says that next year’s R&D budget includes no funds to launch a new 777 variant to compete against Airbus.
McNerney adds: “We have time to think abut how we would respond. … We have a number of technologies that can be inserted [in a 777-type] in plenty of time to respond to the A350.”
Source: FlightGlobal.com
