Boeing’s First 787 Could Ship Next Month

After three years of delays and countless controversies, Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner might finally be prepared for takeoff into commercial service. The first version of the carbon-composite jetliner completed its final flight tests last weekend. Deliveries can begin to launch customer All Nippon Airways (PINK:ALNPY) as soon as the FAA grants its certification. Boeing officials believe deliveries of ANA’s 50-plane order — which initially had been scheduled for late 2008 — will finally start next month.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that Boeing’s 787 deliveries to Air India — which had been scheduled to begin in October — will be delayed by at least two more months. That’s a big problem for Air India, since earlier delays reportedly have cost the struggling state-owned carrier $1.5 billion in revenue.
The flight test of Air India’s first 787 in July was cut short when a sensor failed and the flight crew was forced to declare an emergency. The plane landed safely and Boeing is ironing out the sensor problem. But additional delays in the Air India delivery schedule are nearly certain since that carrier’s planes are outfitted with General Electric GEnx-1B engines, which have not yet been certified. ANA’s planes are outfitted with Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines, which already have received certification.
18/08/11 Susan J. Aluise/InvestorPlace.com

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India Aug 2011, Foreign Aug 2011