Boeing delays delivery of 787 Dreamliner aircraft until next year

27.8.2010 (BBC)

Boeing is delaying delivery of its first new-generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft
until early 2011.  
Japan’s All Nippon Airways was due to take delivery of the aircraft at the end
of this year.

The 787 project has already been delayed for more than two years, following a
series of hitches.

Boeing said on Friday the setback was due to the availability of a Rolls-Royce
engine needed for the final phases of flight testing.

The US company said that it now expected All Nippon to take delivery of the aircraft
in the middle of the first quarter of 2011.

The 787, being built in Seattle, is Boeing’s most sophisticated plane yet. The
company claims the carbon-composite aircraft will be lighter, faster and emit
less CO2 than similar-sized planes currently flying.

However, delays on such huge industrial programmes are not uncommon. Development
of Airbus’ A380 super-jumbo was dogged by problems, plunging the manufacturer
into heavy losses and forcing a clear-out of management.

ANA has ordered 55 Dreamliners, eight of which Boeing had promised to deliver
by the end of March.

“Given the success of the flight test programme so far, it is regrettable to
hear of the delay,” said an All Nippon spokeswoman.

Engine failure

A spokesman for Rolls-Royce said: “We have been informed by Boeing that the currently
planned dates for Trent 1000 engine deliveries will now not support their latest
flight test programme requirements.

“We are working closely with Boeing to expedite delivery in support of their
programme schedule.

“Rolls-Royce confirms that the engine availability issue is unrelated to the
test bed event which occurred earlier this month.”

Difficult births

Boeing 787

  • July 2007: First 787 unveiled, with test flight planned for August and first
    deliveries May 2008
  • Oct: Test flight delayed and deliveries pushed back
  • Jan 2008: Test flight delayed again and deliveries now set for early 2009
  • April: Lack of components means deliveries now set for late 2009
  • Dec: Strikes force another revision of test flight and delivery schedule
  • June 2009: Long-awaited maiden flight delayed

Airbus A380

  • Dec 2004: Airbus reveals project is £1bn over budget
  • April 2005: The plane makes its maiden flight
  • June: Delivery schedule pushed back six months
  • July 2006: Production problems mean another six-eight months delay
  • Oct: Huge problems with wiring mean delivery schedule delayed one year
  • Jan 2007: Airbus warns of mounting losses because of higher A380 costs
  • Oct: Singapore Airlines takes delivery of first A380

On 2 August a Rolls Trent 1000, which will power the 787, failed during testing.

The company’s spokesman declined to give specific details of the incident. But
the Bloomberg news agency reported at the time that a turbine blew up and the
test facility was closed temporarily.

‘Seeking clarification’

It was unclear if the 787 delay would mean Boeing having to reschedule deliveries
to other airlines.

In July, Australia’s Qantas brought forward its 787 delivery schedule, saying
it would receive the first 50 of the aircraft it has on order in mid-2012.

A spokesman said on Friday: “We are seeking more clarification from Boeing.”

Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Air India have said they will seek compensation
running into million of dollars for previous 787 delays.

However, analysts believe any compensation deals would be settled through aircraft
discounts and maintenance agreements rather than cash payments.

The 787 made its maiden flight in December 2009 and was a star feature at July’s
international airshow at Farnborough in the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11106378

 

 

see also

International Herald Tribune

27.8.2010

Engine Problem Delays Delivery of Boeing’s Dreamliner