787 February 2018 Month End Review

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As of February 28, 2018	Number
Testing Complete	3
To be assembled in Everett	113
To be assembled in Charleston	88
Parts Arriving	6
Undergoing final assembly	8
Storage	1
Storage/Change Incorporation and Re-Work	0
Change Incorporation and Re-Work	0
Pre-Flight Prep	9
Production Testing	5
Non Customer Flight Tests	3
Ready for Delivery	7
Donation	3
Delivered	656
TOTAL	902

Boeing had a good month in February delivering 12 787s (all 787-9s) bringing the yearly delivery total to 20.  Through Feb. 28, 2018 Boeing as delivered 656 787s.  Notable deliveries include the penultimate 787-9 to Air China and Untied Airlines last 787-9 that was on order. Additionally Aviation Capital Group took delivery of its first 787 which has been leased to El Al Airlines. Unsurprisingly there has been a 787-8 delivery this year though there are two -8s on the flightline at Everett, their delivery isn't expected until the 2nd quarter.





Production moved back up to the nominal 12/month rate as Boeing rolled out that many 787s (7 in Everett and 5 in Charleston). Boeing started work on 11 787s in February (4 which rolled out in February).  It is interesting to note that Charleston seems to be reducing the build time for their 787s as I've seen 787s come out after 21 to 22 days in final assembly.  This is down from 28 to 29 days.  I see this as preparation at Charleston to go to 7/month next year when Boeing increases the 787 production rate to 14/month.

Looking at March we can look forward to the first delivery of the 787-10 to Singapore Airlines.  The first one has already had it customer flights and should be delivered by March 14th.  We should also see Xiamen Airlines final 787 on order being delivered though they still have another 787-9 still parked at Charleston.  I believe there might be a dual 787 delivery to Xiamen.  Also British Airways' penultimate 787-9 is in the middle of test flights and should also be delivered this month.

Lastly, Hawaiian Airlines pulled a switch-a-roo and dumped the poorly selling A330-800NEO in favor of the 10 x 787-9s as was reported earlier.  Hawaiian also took up 10 options.  This is a pretty big deal as it now leaves Airbus with no customers for the A330-800NEO which is about to start test flights and there aren't any prospects for the warmed over of the A330-200.  I expect this order to be final in the next few months after which I hope to hear about planned delivery timelines.  These airplanes should replace the A330-200 and 767s currently in Hawaiian's fleet and also allow for establishment of new routes, particularly to Europe.

Don't forget to check out the 787 spreadsheets by clicking the link below:

787 Spreadsheets

Report: Hawaiian Airlines dumps A330-800 NEO for 787-9

According to Scott Hamilton at Leeham News, Boeing has convinced Hawaiian Airlines to dump the order for 6 A330-800 NEO in favor of the 787-9.  An announcement may come as early as this week. 

If true, it's blow (though probably not a serious one) to the A330NEO.  The -800 model though only has the one order from Hawaiian which was switched earlier from the A350-800 which Airbus had cancelled due to lack of interest.  It seems the same fate may have befallen the A330-800.  At the end of the day I think that Airbus probably will shelve the A330-800 for lack of interest.  As you recall Airbus' original response to the 787 was to re-engine the A330.  That didn't fly with customers and after several iterations, was forced to for with the A350.  While this model has done well, Airbus had decided to come back to the original re-engine idea which resulted in the A330NEO.  The A330NEO really hasn't sold well with only a total of 220 sales (6 -800 and 214 -900).

787 February 2018 Mid Month Report

Boeing is well on track to deliver around 10 to 12 787s in February.  Thsu far, Boeing has delivered 8 787-9s to customers including the last 2 787-9s on United Airlines' order of 25.  United now has the 14 787-10 left on their large 787 order left to be delivered. Air Canada also had its 25th 787-9 delivered (out of an order for 29) during the last couple of weeks.  Thus far Boeing has delivered 16 787s (all -9s).

One thing to note is that Xiamen Airlines apparently did not take delivery of its 5th 787-9 and is still at Charleston which engine covers still on but parked at the delivery center.  Their 6th and last 787-9 is still on Charleston flightline awaiting its first flight.  Hopefully I'll have a little more information as to the delivery delay and when it should finally deliver.

Boeing is also readying the first 787-10 for delivery around March 14th.  ZC004 (LN 656, 9V-SCA) has taken several flight tests, presumably to test not just the aircraft but the customer furnished equipment that Singapore has wanted installed in their -10s.  I expect that there will be a few filight tests since this is the 1st 787-10 being delivered and this is Singapore's first  direct 787 delivery (not counting Scoot, of course).

Production is moving at the typical pace with 7 Dreamliners rolled out and another 6 which have started final assembly.  Over the next few months we should see more 787-10s rolling out of Charleston all destined for Singapore followed by a short pause and then the GE powered -10s for Etihad and United should start to follow.  Speaking of the production of the -10, Boeing got approval from the FAA on the -10 production at Charleston in the form of the 787-10 production certificate.   This means that the production system and the support for production has met all FAA requirements.  All three 787-10 flight test aircraft are now at Charleston and I'm presuming that they will now undergo change incorporation and re-work at Charleston over the next 6 to 9 months in preparation for delivery to Singapore and United.

In the meantime, continue to browse through the 787 production spreadsheets for more information:

787 Spreadsheets

First production standard 787-10 to take flight today.

Second 787-10 to be delivered to Singapore Airlines - Boeing Photo

The first 787-10 that Boeing will deliver to a customer will make its first flight today from Boeing's Charleston facility.  This aircraft ZC004 (L/N 656, 9V-SCA) should make it's B-1 flight around 10:30 am local time flying to Myrtle Beach International Airport and then back down to Charleston.  The flight should last about 2 hours.

Boeing is building in more time between first flight and delivery as it is is the first 787-10 being delivered and the first 787 being delivered to Singapore Airlines thus the added time is needed between first flight and delivery.  The customer acceptance flight (C-1) should take place around March 2nd, and delivery should occur on March 14th, 2018.

Singapore Airline is expected to take delivery of 8 787-10s this year including two aircraft that were part of the 787-10 flight test program.  All together there were three test flight airplanes and all three are now located back in Charleston where they will now undergo change incorporation and re-work to get them to FAA certification standards and to remove flight test equipment and install the passenger cabin.