Thursday, March 25, 2010

787 News Round Up

The 787 program continues apace with the pending TIA for the 787. Production continues with a new milestone set to take place on Monday, March 29th. That day the parts for LN 20, which is the first weight optimized 787, will be loaded into the assembly tool at position 1 in building 40-26.

The aircraft, ZA175, is destined for Japan Airlines with GEnx engines. The line will move on March 28 with LN 16 coming out and going to the paint hangar. Also on that day Boeing will hopefully be conducting the extremely important ultimate load test on ZY 997. Currently, Boeing is conducting tests on the static air frame in a build up to the ultimate load tests this Sunday. Mike Mecham of Aviation Week has a great blog post describing the ultimate load test.

Mike Mecham : The final wing bend (hopefully)

In other news, LAN airlines confirmed news that was already known...that they will take some of the early 787s. In total they're moving up the delivery of 10 787s with LN 10 and LN 16 due to be delivered in about a year from now during the 2nd quarter of 2011. Here's LAN's press release:

LAN Will Be One of the First Airlines in the World to Receive the Boeing
787 Dreamliner

SANTIAGO, Chile, March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LAN Airlines S.A. ("LAN" or "the Company") (NYSE: LFL; IPSA: LAN), one of the leading airlines in Latin America, and its subsidiaries today announced that the Company signed an agreement with Boeing to adjust the delivery of ten Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to be incorporated into the Company's long haul fleet. This new delivery schedule anticipates by three years the arrival of this aircraft, previously scheduled for 2014 and now expected starting in the first semester of 2011.

In this way, LAN becomes the first airline in the western hemisphere to receive the Dreamliner, which is expected to revolutionize the airline industry, incorporating the most advanced technology. These ten aircraft are part of the original order for 26 Boeing 787s placed by LAN in 2007 and previously scheduled for delivery between 2014 and 2019. In addition, LAN has outstanding orders for six leased Dreamliners.

The Boeing 787-8 undertook its first flight in December 2009 and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2010. It has the capacity to seat approximately 250 passengers, providing a unique in-flight experience due to innovative technological advances featured inside the aircraft cabin. In addition, Dreamliners are fuel efficient and ecologically friendly, providing a significant reduction in emissions.

The Dreamliners will assist in the renewal and growth of the Company's long-haul fleet, allowing LAN Airlines and its subsidiaries to serve international destinations, improving connectivity between Latin America, Europe and the United States.

Mr. Enrique Cueto, LAN's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The incorporation of the Boeing 787 ensures the Company's sustainable growth while preserving the environment and incorporating state-of-the-art technology to deliver the best travel experience for LAN's passengers. LAN looks forward to incorporating this new generation of aircraft in the first half of 2011."

"Partnering with LAN Airlines, one of the world's great air carriers, is an exciting way to introduce the 787 to the flying public. We look forward to seeing the Dreamliner fly with LAN's livery. The 787 Dreamliner represents one of those rare generational advancements in powered flight that will provide superior operating economics, compelling environmental performance and unique passenger comforts. LAN and its passengers will be among the early beneficiaries of these enhancements," said Marlin Dailey, Vice President Sales Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Flightblogger says that LAN will be joining the likes of ANA, Air India, Continental, JAL, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian, China Southern and Royal Air Maroc as operators of the 787 by 2011. Read Jon's post:

LAN confirms early 787 arrival

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Uresh
Are you 100% certain that the 787 in the tent (JA805A) is LN12? Whichever 787 it was it was the one that was parked out the front of the tent.

Unknown said...

The aircraft that was parked in stall 107 on Wednesday is the aircraft that is now in the tent. The aircraft we thought was LN12 is still parked in stall 114 alongside LN10 (stall 115). Unless LN11 and LN12 swapped positions before the move into the tent then it appears that either LN11 is now reg'd JA805A and is in the tent or it is LN12 that was parked at stall 107 all along??

This is becoming hard to keep a track off!! Is the info in your table confirmed??

Uresh said...

Yes it's all confirmed by my source and Matt Cawby also has pictures of it on his web site. It appears that LN 11 moved from spot 107 to spot 114 and LN 12 is in the circus test for its side of body mods.