787 June 30, 2013 update

At the end of the 1st quarter 2013, Boeing was struggling to re-right the 787 ship in light of the lithium ion battery issues which had forced a grounding of the aircraft.  One quarter later the ship is righted and with it the deliveries have re-commenced.  Boeing had several Dreamliners waiting for delivery when the FAA had lifted the grounding.  Boing delivered 7 aircraft in May and 9 in June with delivery later in the summer poised to be at higher rates. 

Production did slow down as Boeing had spent most of this month in reconfiguring and reconstructing the main 787 final assembly line in building 40-26.  Because of this and the Temporary Surge Line in 40-24 being used exclusively for 787-9 final assembly, 787-8 production from Everett was essentially stopped.  Aircraft still rolled off the line as these were loaded prior to June but there won't be too many 787s rolling out in Everett during July.  Still, we should see the 1st 787-9 rolling off the line in July and most 787s coming out of 40-26 or 40-24 were ones that were already assembled but needed to finish some minor assembly tasks during the next one month.

To date Boeing has delivered 17 787s to customers. They have 29 post-L/N 66 Dreamliners waiting for delivery as well which I believe they should deliver by the end of September. Boeing should be able to assemble 24 more 787s through mid November from all three lines.  It takes Boeing about 6 weeks from roll out to deliver the aircraft in to the customer though this varies from customer to customer. Additionally, Boeing should be able to deliver 9 787s from EMC in the next 6 months.  This would total 62 787s delivered in the second half of the year.  Combined with the 17 already delivered and the total project 2013 787 deliveries should be around 79.  This total would not include the 787-9 built this year.


Full 787 List

Current 787 Production List

Delivered 787 List

787 Monthly Delivery Tracking

787 Customer Delivery

 

787 spreadsheets

There's been a lot of chatter about viewing the spreadsheets.  In the past I've been embedding the sheets in my posts (not all of the posts though).  I'm going to continue to embed them in most of my posts but I'm also going to add a web link. 

If it proves to be popular I may discontinue to embed them and just use a web link.  I'm trying to see if there is a way I can add the ability for viewers to filter the spreadsheets but not edit or alter the information (I need to keep control over that process, I'm kinda of a control freak that way). If someone knows how to add the filtering capabilities to published sheets, I appreciate if you would let me know.

Here are the web links for the more popular sheets:

Full 787 List

Current 787 Production List

Delivered 787 List

787 Monthly Delivery Tracking

787 Customer Delivery


I hope it makes the blog more enjoyable.

Uresh

Paris Air Show 2013 - Day 3 Airbus and Boeing Order Summary

Here's the round up of orders for Boeing and Airbus during the first 3 days of the air show:

Boeing

GECAS - 10 x 787-10 (MoU)
Skymark Airlines - unknown number of 737 MAX (MoU)
Qatar Airways - 2 x 777-300ER (7 options) (Firm Order)
United Airlines - 20 x 787-10 (10 conversions from 787-9, 10 new order) (MoU)
British Airways - 12 x 787-10 (MoU)
Singapore Airlines - 30 x 787-10 (Exercise of existing options needed to be confirmed)
ALC - 30 x 787-10, 3 x 787-9 (MoU)
Korean Airlines - 5 x 747-8I, 6 x 777-300ER (MoU)
CIT - 30 x 737 MAX8 (10 new orders, 20 conversions, Firm)
Oman Air - 5 x 737-900ER (Firm)
Travel Service - 3 x 737 MAX8 (MoU)
Ryanair - 175 x 737-800 (Firm)

Totals by model:
737-800 - 175 (Firm)
737-900ER - 5 (Firm)
737 MAX8 - 10 (Firm), 20 conversions (Firm), 3 (MoU)
747-8I - 5 MoU
777-300ER - 2 firm, 6 MoU, 7 Options
787-9 - 3 MoU
787-10 - 92 MoU (does not count the 10 conversion from 787-9)

Airbus

Doric Leasing - 20 x A380-800 (MoU)
ILFC - 50 x A320 NEO (Firm)
Lufthansa - 70 x A320 NEO (Firm), 30 x A320 CEO (Firm)
Syphax - 3 x A320 NEO, 3 x A320 CEO (MoU)
easyJet - 35 x A320 CEO; 100 x A320 NEO (MoU)
Air France - 25 x A350-900 (Firm)
Sri Lankan - 6 x A330-300, 4 x A350-900 (MoU)

Totals by model:
A320 CEO - 30 Firm, 38 MoU
A320 NEO - 120 Firm, 103 MoU
A380 - 20 MoU
A350-900 - 25 (Firm), 4 (MoU)
A330-300 - 6 (MoU)

Boeing launches 787-10; Paris Air Show 2013 - Day 2 Airbus & Boeing Order Summary

Boeing Photo

After more than 5 years of will they or won't they, Boeing finally did...they launched the 787-10 after years of speculation and being at times being put on the back burner while Boeing grappled with getting the 787 program on track during the three plus years of delays.

The announcement was anti-climatic as the Boeing board gave management the authority to Offer (ATO) last year and speculation increased when British Airways exercised 18 787 options earlier this year and Singapore Airlines concluded an agreement to buy the jet last month pending formal launch of the aircraft which took place today.  The formal launch of this aircraft kicks off a 5+ year development cycle which will lead to first flight in 2017 and certification and first delivery in 2018.  It is not known to whom the first delivery will be made.

There were 5 launch customers announced today:

ALC - 30
British Airways - 12 (they exercised 18 options so I assume the other 6 are for either the 787-8, 787-9 or a mixture of both)
GECAS - 10, this is the first time that GECAS is buying the 787 despite parent GE being one of two engine suppliers.
Singapore Airlines - 30
United Airlines - 20 with 10 being a conversion of previously ordered 787-9.


Here's the round up of orders for Boeign and Airbus during the first 2 days of the air show:
Boeing GECAS - 10 x 787-10 (MoU)
Skymark Airlines - unknown number of 737 MAX (MoU)
Qatar Airways - 2 x 777-300ER (7 options) (Firm Order)
United Airlines - 20 x 787-10 (10 conversions from 787-9, 10 new order) (MoU)
British Airways - 12 x 787-10 (MoU)
Singapore Airlines - 30 x 787-10 (Exercise of existing options needed to be confirmed)
ALC - 30 x 787-10, 3 x 787-9 (MoU)
Korean Airlines - 5 x 747-8I, 6 x 777-300ER (MoU)

Totals by model:
747-8I - 5 MoU
777-300ER - 2 firm, 6 MoU, 7 Options
787-9 - 3 MoU
787-10 - 92 MoU (does not count the 10 conversion from 787-9)

Airbus

Doric Leasing - 20 x A380-800 (MoU)
ILFC - 50 x A320 NEO (Firm)
Lufthansa - 70 x A320 NEO (Firm), 30 x A320 CEO (Firm)
Syphax - 3 x A320 NEO, 3 x A320 CEO (MoU)
easyJet - 35 x A320 CEO; 100 x A320 NEO (MoU)

Totals by model:
A320 CEO - 30 Firm, 38 MoU
A320 NEO - 120 Firm, 103 MoU
A380 - 20 MoU

Lastly, there should be at least 2 787s delivered this week: ZA241 (LN 72, VT-ANM) for Air India and ZA273 (LN 87, SP-LRD) for Polish LOT should be delivered this week.  I think it's possible for a couple more deliveries this week but I expect a quite a few deliveries next week to finish up June.


 

Paris Air Show 2013 - Day 1 Airbus & Boeing Order Summary

The 1st day of the Paris Air Show has wrapped up and there were a few surprise orders, most notably from GECAS for the 787-10.  The leasing unit of General Electric has not placed an order for the 787 since the program was launched in 2004 despite the parent company manufacturing engines for the aircraft.

GECAS took up 10 787-10 which are to be finalized once Boeing launches the aircraft which is anticipated to be tomorrow.  Unsurprisingly, these aircraft will be powered by the GE GEnx-1Bs.

The other surprising order was from Doric Leasing for 20 A380s.

Lastly,
I do expect that Boeing, with the launch of the 787-10, will hit the 1000 787 order mark quite soon. It will depend on how long it will take to finalize the MoUs and some may already finalized and just needs Boeing's formal launch to finalize the contract.  Boeing has firm orders for 890 787s and just need another 110 more which I believe they can easily reach with the launch of the -10.

Here's a run down of today's order activity:

Boeing

GECAS - 10 x 787-10 (MoU)
Skymark Airlines - unknown number of 737 MAX (MoU)
Qatar Airways - 2 x 777-300ER (7 options) (Firm Order)

Airbus

Doric Leasing - 20 x A380-800 (MoU)
ILFC - 50 x A320 NEO (Firm)
Lufthansa - 100 x A320 NEO (Firm)

Breaking: Jon Ostrower and WSJ reporting 787-10 launch

UPDATE: The WSJ says the formal launch will be at Paris and Boeing will announce launch customers from the US (United, Air Lease Corp), Europe (British Airways), and Asia (Singapore Airlines). No word on numbers or if these will be firm orders.

I only have a 140 character tweet from Jon but he's reporting that Boeing is formally launching the 787-10 with orders from Singapore, United, IAG, and Air Lease being seen as possible launch customers. If true, this news comes 4 days before the start of the Paris Air Show and a day before the first flight of the A350-900 which the 787-10 will compete directly against. Obviously Boeing is trying to steal some of Airbus' thunder with tomorrow's first flight.

787 Odds and Ends

As we get closer to the Paris Airshow due to start next Monday, here is a rundown on some news as of late.  Nothing earth shattering or unexpected.

Paris 2013

This show should shape up to be the battle of the widebodies with the A350 vs. the 787 and 777X.  There will be some notable orders but I think this is where Boeing will announce the formal launch of the 787-10 with Singapore Airline's order for 30 aircraft.  The carrier already has selected the engine for their 30 -10s (Trent 1000-TEN), something they wouldn't be doing if launch wasn't imminent.  I also believe that the launch will not only include announcement of the Singapore order but will also announce the order from IAG (British Airways) for 18 -10s.  This is the exercise of the 18 options the carrier held but the 787 model wasn't announced when IAG announced the exercise of the options.  I think that announcement will be made at Paris. There may be other 787-10 order announcement made at Paris.  I don't think Boeing will announce the launch of the 777X at Paris but will heavily talk it up behind the scenes with customers.  Look for the launch announcement on Tuesday, June 18th.

Meanwhile ZA242 (LN 90, VT-ANN) is currently flying to Le Bourget where it will fly demonstrations during the first 3 or 4 days of the show.  ZA465 (LN 99, A7-BCD) will join ZA242 later (probably on Saturday or Sunday) but will be on static display through out the airshow.

787 Production

Production has been continuing and I do believe that ZB001 has moved on to the next line position in 40-24 and should remain there for the next 10-12 days while assembly and testing continue on this aircraft.  I continue to believe that this aircraft should be out on  the flightline in the 3rd or 4th week of July and possibly flying by early to mid September.

787 Flight Testing and Delivery

Production flight testing continues as Boeing is trying to be aggressive in delivering the large backlog of 787s that are sitting on the Everett and Charleston tarmacs.  Interestingly Boeing delivered 7 787s last month but none from Charleston.  I do expect that 3 to 4 787s should be delivered from Charleston this month.  Currently I have 5 787s listed as ready for delivery along with another 10 that have started production flight tests.  I expect at least 2 to 3 787s will have their B-1 flights in the next week in order to be delivered by the end of this month.

Finally a blog note.  I've added a 5th table below which shows the 78s that are currently in production (see 787 Current Production).  I does not show 787s that have been delivered or ones that will not be delivered (like the first 3 test flight aircraft).  Hopefully this will aid in understanding what is going on at Everett and Charleston.
 

Boeing confirms start of 787-9 final assembly

787-9 in position 1 in 40-24.  Boeing Photo

 

 

Boeing confirmed today that they had started final assembly of the first 787-9 on May 30th as this blog revealed on May 14th.  Boeing also confirmed that the two other test frames will be assembled in the 40-24 building which is the Temporary Surge Line where ZB001 (LN 126, N789EX) is currently being built.  This airframe should make the move to position 2 around June 9th if the main assembly that is sequenced in position 1 as well as any tests are satisfactorily completed by then.

 

I still believe that this plane should roll out of final assembly around the 3rd to 4th week of July. It'll be great to see this aircraft next to the 787-8 to get a true appreciation of its size.

Below is Boeing's press release:

First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Begins Final Assembly

Newest 787 complements, extends the super-efficient family

EVERETT, Wash., June 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has begun final assembly of the first 787-9 Dreamliner. The newest member of the 787 family began taking shape on schedule May 30 in Everett, Wash., when Boeing started joining large sections of the super-efficient jet.
"From the start, the entire 787-9 team has focused relentlessly on execution so that we fulfill the commitments to our customers," said Mark Jenks, vice president, 787 Airplane Development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Integrating the 787-9 into our production system on time is another clear sign that we are well prepared and well positioned for the work ahead."
Boeing's global partners delivered the first 787-9 sections to final assembly on or ahead of schedule, and strong progress continues beyond, with major assembly under way on the other flight-test airplanes. "The dedication, quality and skill of our partners are helping drive our disciplined performance," said Jenks.
Boeing will build the first three 787-9s on its Temporary Surge Line in Everett to allow for smoother integration of the 787-9 into the production system while continuing to ramp up production across the 787 program.
The 787-9 will complement and extend the 787 family, offering airlines the ability to grow routes opened with the 787-8. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters), the 787-9 will carry 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles (555 kilometers) while using 20 percent less fuel than similarly sized airplanes. The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering the features passengers prefer such as large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.
The vertical stabilizer on this 787-9 reflects the new Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery, a refreshed look for the Boeing family of airplanes that started with the 747-8 and evolved with the 737 MAX. Many features of the livery on the original 787 are reflected in the new design. The prominent number designator on the tail helps distinguish various models within the same product family.
First flight of the 787-9 is scheduled for the second half of 2013, with first delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand set for early 2014. 20 customers around the world have ordered 355 787-9s, accounting for 40 percent of all 787 orders.

 

787 program ends May on a high note

During the month of May 2013, Boeing had solidly left the lithium ion battery issues behind as the 50 787s delivered prior to the grounding received the new batteries and containment system and returned to revenue service.  May also so Boeing deliver 7 Dreamliners to 5 customers including 2 customers who received their first 787s (TUI - Thomson Airways and China Southern Airlines).

787 deliveries went to:

ANA (2)
China Southern Airlines (1)
Japan Airlines (1)
LOT Polish Airlines (1)
TUI Travel (2)

LOT's 3rd 787 on final into New York's JFK while over Long Island, June 1, 2013

 

 

The 7 deliveries was a solid performance for Boeing who kept the production going despite the uncertainty of when the aircraft would be allowed to return to service.  During this time Boeing also continued with ground tests of the 787 in preparation for production flight testing and delivery.  The deliveries capped off a feverish race to return the 50 787s already delivered to revenue service which Boeing had completed early last week.  The last two carriers, Japan Airlines and LOT Polish returned to revenue service today with LOT inaugurating it Warsaw-JFK service on the 787 (see picture above of the first 787 to land at JFK).

 

 

In addition to the return to service and the delivery accomplishments during May, Boeing also started final assembly on the first 787-9 on May 30th.  This is yet as unconfirmed by Boeing but sources have told me that this is the planned load date into position 1 for this aircraft.  It is being assembled in building 40-24.

 

I am expecting deliveries for June to be higher than May with at least 14 if not more 787s being delivered to customers.  Here's my prediction for June:

 

Aeromexico (ILFC)* - 1

Air India - 1

ANA - 2

British Airways* - 2

China Southern - 1

Hainan Airlines* - 2

LOT Polish - 1

Japan Airlines - 1

Norwegian (ILFC)* - 1

Qatar Airways - 1

Thomson Airways - 1

 

Many of the airplanes that would be slated for delivery in June already have had their B-1 flight or more. 4 customers will be receiving their first 787s this month as well.



 

My First 787 sighting!

In the 5+ years that I've been writing this blog, I have never seen a 787 up close until today.  Living and working in NY doesn't afford me many opportunities to see one and I had to be content with pictures that others have taken until today.  So I got my cherry popped so to speak!

LOT 006 from Warsaw to JFK flew directly over my house here in Long Island (I'm fortunate/unfortunate to live right under one of the main approaches to JFK) and using flightradar24.com I was able to time my picture perfectly even though I didn't have the use a digital SLR, I was able to see my first 787 in real life and somewhat up close as LOT 6 (ZA272, LN 86, SP-LRC) flew final into JFK as LOT re-started 787 flights for the first time since the grounding.  Above is my picture as it flew directly over my house just a few minutes ago.