The FAA granted Boeing the amended type certificate for the GE powered version of the 787-9 clearing the way for deliveries to begin later next week with the first aircraft going to United Airlines. That delivery should occur in the middle to late next week.
Boeing is slowly ramping up 787-9 production this year and is on track to deliver 10 to 12 this year though I'm in favor of the higher number. The airplanes that are coming off the production line still have to go through some change incorporation at the EMC but I believe this should start to tail off by the middle of the fourth quarter (November). 2015 might prove to be a big year for deliveries of the larger 787 model. I believe that Boeing can deliver around 50 to 55 787-9 which would be almost 50% of their 2015 deliveries. If they are able to accomplish that coupled with a successful drive to reduce production and assembly costs, then the 787-9 can be extremely profitable for Boeing in 2015.
It could also help if Boeing can convert more customers from the 787-8 to either the 787-9 and/or the 787-10. Already some airlines are getting out the 787-8 like Air Berlin which still has to confirm their conversion from the -8 to the -9. This can only help the overall profitability of the 787 program in the long run. Yesterday, Boeing showed a cancellation of 5 787s from it's weekly order report. Speculation immediately fell on Lion Air/Batik as the source as they have been talking about converting that order into 10 737s. There was also an unidentified order for 10 737s posted along with the cancellation thus Lion Air does seem to be the logical choice.
Thus far in August, Boeing has delivered 8 787s but I do expect 5 more to be delivered in the next 9 days. I'll give a fuller report at the end of the month along with a preview of September's deliveries around Labor Day.
787 Full Production Table
Uresh, Any clues on what is slowing down production testing in Everett. Just last week Charleston conducted B1 flights on 3 frames. Everett has not had a B1 for almost 2 weeks, not since ZA680 on 8/11/14, although these seem to be plenty of candidates, some have been out of assembly since June. Thanks for any insight
ReplyDeleteUresh,
ReplyDeleteWhen a frame is assembled in SC and then has to fly to CA to be painted, do all the squawks have to be addressed before it can be ferried?
The reason I'm asking is that it seems that the 2nd flight on SC frames have been ferry flights, then is would seem to me that the frames are coming out very clean
Thanks for this site
John
After carefully consideration of production charts, it seems Boeing is pre positioned for a significant fourth quarter run on 787 deliveries. They have also maintain over 10 a month these last 90 days since June 1st.
ReplyDeleteBoeing should meet its mark that it projected at the beginning of the year.
I'm just wondering if / Boeing / GE / RR should have loner planes to cover the non-availabilty on delivered aircraft that have significant problems early early in shortly after delivery. I'm thinking of the problems with G-TUIE - delivered first of July where one engine failed mid Atlantic and and needed a gearbox replacement and now the plane has been in Cancun for 5 days now awaiting the replacement of the other engine.
ReplyDeleteNo
ReplyDeleteUresh,
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming the 'No' was the answer to my question. Thanks..enjoy your holiday weekend.
John
Nope, it was in response to PeterHR
ReplyDeleteAny update on Uniteds' -9 delivery? I thought for sure they would be an August delivery.
ReplyDeleteThe Hybrid Laminar Flow Control on the 787-9: On the articles I have read it is also planned for the -10 BUT they are only considering it for the -8. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteIn my reading, the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on all 3 versions are the same dimensions, so I presume they are the same components, so why would Boeing NOT include this technology on all 3 versions?
As I understand, this is grounding breaking technology that will further reduce fuel consumption.
It's still August.
ReplyDeleteUresh, Any idea why American
ReplyDeleteAirlines is scheduled now to get
the 787-8 vs the 787-9?
The -8 we're available sooner.
ReplyDeleteANOTHER MILESTONE ! With today's B1 flight of LN224, ZA660 out of Charleston, this frame is the 200th. Dreamliner to fly.
ReplyDeleteUresh - The Hybrid Laminar Flow Control on the 787-9: On the articles I have read it is also planned for the -10 BUT they are only considering it for the -8. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteIn my reading, the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on all 3 versions are the same dimensions, so I presume they are the same components, so why would Boeing NOT include this technology on all 3 versions?
As I understand, this is grounding breaking technology that will further reduce fuel consumption
One word...cost. It all depends if they can recover the costs associated with redesigning the stabs of the -8 given the shrinking number of -8s they expect to deliver.
ReplyDeleteI see - I had expected the stabs on all 3 versions were the same size. If they are different then cost makes sense.
ReplyDeleteDo you know how much more fuel efficient this technology is, or is Boeing keeping it under wraps?
Also, given the # of 737's on order will they add this technology to that line as I read they are for the 777X?
Uresh - are you certain the UAL 787-9 has been delivered? It doesn't show on any Google's, the United site, etc and I would expect UAL would make a big show of this, being the only US carrier with this model.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the reason for no publicity on this?
Boeing is keeping that info a secret
ReplyDeleteMy sources have confirmed the delivery.
ReplyDeleteI live in myrtle beac sc and around noon saw a comtrail over the ocean that did a u turn. Jet was pretty high up. Looked at flightaware and found out it was BOE 660 (787) out of charleston,sc. Assume it was a test flight. Do they schedule these far in advance? Would love to see one up close.
ReplyDeleteCheck Flightaware but Boeing doesn't make the test flight schedule public.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising to me Boeing and UAL didn't make a big media splash when delivered. Could it have been delivered, paperwork-wise, yet it is still on the ramp, yet to deliver?
ReplyDeleteYes it could.
ReplyDelete