Boeing Postpones 787 First Flight

Boeing has announced that first flight of its 787 has been postponed from the end of the first quarter of 2008 to around the end of the second quarter, in order to provide additional time to complete assembly of the first aeroplane. Deliveries are now expected to begin in early 2009, rather than late 2008.

According to Scott Carson, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the company is continuing to suffer from start up issues in its own factory and from its extended global supply chain. However, he made it clear that the delay has nothing to do with the fundamental design and technologies of the 787, which, he insists, remain sound.

Despite progress on the assembly of the first 787, Carson said that the rate at which jobs are being completed has not improved sufficiently to maintain the current schedule.

“Our revised schedule is based upon updated assessments from the 787 management team of the progress we have made and the lessons we have learned to date. This includes our experience on the factory floor completing production work on the aeroplane that was originally intended to be done by our suppliers,” he said.

According to Boeing, it will be working with its customers and suppliers over the next several weeks to assess the specific impacts of the schedule change on the 787’s flight test programme and entry into service.

“We are deeply disappointed by what this delay means for our customers, and we are committed to working closely with them as we assess the impact on our delivery schedules,” Carson said.

Under 787 Vice President and General Manager Pat Shanahan, who assumed leadership of the 787 programme last October, Boeing has provided additional resources to manage the 787 global supply chain more effectively. To this end, the company has assembled a team of experienced executives, business managers and planning specialists that it will base at its supplier partners, as well as in its own final assembly facility.

Shanahan said that having made significant progress in reducing parts shortages, improving fastener availability, and achieving static and systems test milestones, the company was focused on getting the 787 flying, certified and delivered to its customers.