Paul Lewis and Guy Norris/SEATTLE
Boeing is close to launching the stretched 767-400ERX on the back of an anticipated order from Delta Airlines for a complete fleet of passenger aircraft.
Interest in the 767 derivative has been revived after years of inactivity, during which time market attention was focused on the 777 family.
Boeing is now increasingly confident that the programme can be launched soon, with the first aircraft entering service around 2000. Boeing president and chairman, Phil Condit says, that the higher-capacity 767 will counter the Airbus A330-200, "With the stretched 767 we'd have a good, competitive family," he adds.
According to Boeing product marketing director Joe Ozimek, there are "some fairly intense discussions with several possible customers". He adds: "We're willing to sign on the dotted line." Boeing Commercial Airplane Group president Ron Woodard says: "I just need some customers."
Boeing is understood to be concentrating its efforts on securing a launch order from Delta, as part of a larger planned aircraft purchase. The Atlanta-based carrier is discussing ordering "40-plus" 767-400ERXs to replace its fleet of 50 Lockheed L-1011 TriStars on transatlantic and domestic routes.
The new 767 derivative being proposed has a reinforced airframe incorporating two fuselage plugs with a total length of 6.43m. The longer fuselage will be able to accommodate up to 50 extra passengers. A new interior, based on that of the 777, will be designed.
To improve performance, the 767-400ERX's wingspan will be extended and will have canted winglets. Boeing says that the larger wing is being designed to accommodate the extra fuel needed to give the aircraft the same 11,100km (6,000nm)-plus range as that of the 767-300ER. There will be the provision for added fuel to be carried in the fuselage.
Boeing is also studying the potential use of the extended wing on new-build 767-300ERs as a way of increasing the range by several hundred kilometres. The main landing gear will be strengthened to take the 767-400ERX's extra weight. The main post will be lengthened, to give the longer aircraft ample margin for rotation on take-off and landing.
Despite the higher gross weight of the -400ERX, the manufacturer says that the stretch will use the existing 276kN (62,000lb)-thrust engine rating now offered on the -300ER.
Senior Boeing officials say that McDonnell Douglas is likely to be awarded design work for the 767-400X, as part of the new agreement between the two companies to co-operate on the latest wide-body aircraft. It will take around 36 months to complete development and deliver the first stretched variant.
At the same time, Boeing has confirmed that it is committed to further increasing the 777-200IGW's maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 294,000kg. The higher MTOW will allow the aircraft's maximum range to be extended to 13,875km. The first 777-200IGW+ version will be delivered to launch customer Air France in 1998.
Source: Flight International
