Boeing has completed 97% of 787 flight testing and its dedicated six-aircraft test fleet is no longer flying for certification credit, said Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive Jim Albaugh.
Albaugh said Boeing (chalet A328, chalet B321) has provided all but 120 of the 4,300 submittals to the US Federal Aviation Administration for certification of the 787, and reaffirmed first delivery guidance for the first aircraft to All Nippon Airways in the third quarter - three-and-a-half years late.
The outstanding 3% of testing will focus on 787 systems functionality and reliability testing and extended operations evaluations, which will require 300 flight hours and will be conducted on ZA102, the second production 787 and the ninth built overall.
Of the test fleet of six, four Rolls-Rolls Trent 1000 aircraft and two General Electric GEnx-1B test aircraft have been shifted to conducting Boeing-oriented testing.
For example, say programme sources, ZA004 is conducting nautical air mile fuel efficiency evaluations on the updated Package B Trent 1000 and will enter service on All Nippon Airways' fifth 787, which will be configured for long-range missions.
Additionally, in early June ZA003 underwent evaluations of the new hybrid laminar flow control leading edge surfaces, technology being pioneered for the larger 787-9, due for entry into service in late 2013 with Air New Zealand.
ZA001 will be on display at the show beginning on Tuesday afternoon.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
