Further Delays Hit Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Boeing has confirmed that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner, which ANA the launch customer was hoping would take place this month, has been postponed.

Boeing said that it had to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft before the first test flight could take place.

The need was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane. Preliminary analysis indicated that flight test could proceed this month as planned. However, after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, Boeing decided to postpone the flight.

First flight and, more importantly for Boeing's customers, first delivery, will be rescheduled following the final determination of the required modification and testing plan.

Boeing said it would be several weeks before the new schedule is available.

"Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled, but we ultimately concluded that the right thing was to develop, design, test and incorporate a permanent modification to the localized area requiring reinforcement. Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes, and this is not an issue related to our choice of materials or the assembly and installation work of our team," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

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