Aircraft News - North America

AirGuide Business, April 14, 2008

Boeing

Boeing mechanics began final assembly work on the first 777-200LRF Freighter at the company's Everett, Wash., facility this week. The new cargo airplane will roll out of the factory later this month, and work will begin to prepare the airplane for flight test this summer. The 777 Freighter will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo airplane. Boeing will deliver the first 777 Freighter to its launch customer Air France in the fourth quarter of 2008. The 777 Freighter is based on the 777-200LR Worldliner passenger airplane and is built using the same production line as all other models of the 777. Eleven customers around the world have ordered 78 777 Freighters. Apr 11, 2008

Boeing

Boeing has announced a revised plan for first flight and initial deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner with 25 deliveries planned in the third quarter of 2009. The first flight of the 787 has been moved to the fourth quarter of 2008, Boeing said. The new plan includes additional schedule margins to reduce risk of further delays with the program. Boeing expressed confidence in its plans and said it will work closely with customers to minimize any disruption. Boeing said that it expected no change to 2008 earnings and said it expected strong 2009 growth. Carson said work situation and unanticipated rework prevented Boeing from hitting the milestones laid out in January. He also said while the fundamental technologies and design of the 787 remain sound, Boeing has made allowance for dealing with other issues the company may uncover in testing. Visit www.boeing.com. Apr 10, 2008

Boeing

Boeing indefinitely delayed deliveries of the 787-3 variant, saying it would focus on the standard 787-8 and then the larger, stretched 787-9 variant. If delays on the Boeing 787 get even longer, airlines might postpone or cancel orders, which would likely boost sales of Boeing's established 767 and 777 models and increase interest in Airbus's competing A350 XWB. Apr 10, 2008

Boeing

The delays for the Boeing 787 mirror the costly problems at rival Airbus which was two years late with its A380 super jumbo airliner. The 787 is now about 15 months behind schedule as Boeing makes slow progress on assembling the plane and struggles with underperforming suppliers. Boeing's plan was to outsource almost all major manufacturing to outside companies and then assemble the plane itself. It has since found that such a decentralized structure makes it hard to keep a check on suppliers' mistakes and delays. However, shares in most of the U.S. suppliers of parts for the plane rose on Wednesday, with the delay much shorter than investors had anticipated. Boeing shares jumped 4.8 percent. Apr 10, 2008

Boeing

Boeing may delay 787 deliveries up to 17 months. Boeing may announce later today that its 787 program faces delays of up to 17 months, according to media reports. The delays may push deliveries back until the third quarter of next year. Boeing declined to comment. Meanwhile, the company's 747-8 is expected to enter service in 2009. Apr 9, 2008