Boeing 787 news

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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The first Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 was rolled out of the Boeing paint facility last night: a beauty!

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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FAA warns that 787s can lose all electrical power in certain circumstances

Nearly four years after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner entered commercial service, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to combat a potentially dangerous software glitch that can cause a total loss of electrical power that would endanger the aircraft.

Jon Ostrower, an aviation journalist at The Wall Street Journal, comments: A glitch that only shows up after 8 months, yes. But Boeing was telling airlines to keep their 787s powered to avoid nuisance messages.

United Continental, the largest 787 operator in the U.S. and an early customer for the jet, last year replaced many ground power units where the aircraft was operating, including its Houston hub. The earlier units, which sit at the gates and connect to the power-hungry aircraft, were unexpectedly switching off, causing a loss of power on the aircraft. When the aircraft was repowered, nuisance messages would have to be cleared before a flight could be operated.

Boeing and United said that software and hardware changes to the aircraft have now significantly reduced those messages.

But previously, United said its ground crews would leave a small onboard generator, known as the auxiliary power unit, running as an “alternate power source for [the 787] to ensure stable electrical power while on the ground.”
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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I may be wrong... But I just read that as the 787 being quite "picky" in terms of stable power supplies, something that wouldn't really be a factor during a flight, and only during groundwork. Of course, a completely stable power supply (115V 400 Hz) is not always easy to guarantee, especially in some off the grid airports. I see this as a quirk that may have been missed during the design phase, but I don't think it's that substantial, really.
It kind of reminds of the A380's susceptibility to lightning strikes, and the potential damage in the electrical systems. Airbus had to design an extra plug to mitigate the risk somewhat. (A job they managed to pull of very well, very quickly.)
Some things just don't show up on the "test bench".

Of course, I may be interpreting this article incorrectly.

EDIT: It seems I DID indeed interpret the article incorrectly. The new Airworthiness Directive handles about the 787 losing all electrical systems if it's powered on for 248 days consecutively (In other words, no downtime at all in 248 consecutive days), due to some sort of software counter having an overflow error. The current workaround is to shut the aircraft down completely once in a while. I can see this not showing up on the test bench either, and suspect the software update to fix it will be in airline's hands fairly swiftly.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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KriVa wrote:I may be wrong... But I just read that as the 787 being quite "picky" in terms of stable power supplies, something that wouldn't really be a factor during a flight, and only during groundwork. Of course, a completely stable power supply (115V 400 Hz) is not always easy to guarantee, especially in some off the grid airports. I see this as a quirk that may have been missed during the design phase, but I don't think it's that substantial, really.
....
All recent aircraft, starting way back to the 777, are indeed more demanding on ground power. This in terms of “quantity” and “quality”.
For example, they are less forgiving in voltage excursions which needs to strictly remain within tight margins, typ 3V, (112 to 118V).

Also the 787 is said to be a “Power Factor 1” aircraft. Historically, and although the type of on-board consumption is a mix of resistive and inductive loads, the industry has always considered the magic number of 0.8PF. As a Gnd Pwr Receptacle is rated “up to 90kVA”, this meant 72kW.
Now the Ground Power, GPU or FEGP, needs to be capable of delivering constantly 90kVA with Cos ϕ = 1, i.e. 90kW, with some overload capacity.

Furthermore, Boeing states that the Gnd Pwr Units to supply the 787 must be capable of 730A average peak (1100A worst case); the max continuous current of a conventional GPU is 260A …
Not all of the older equipment is up to this and although you may get away with it sometimes, eventually you are going to have a drop off line one day.
400Hz converters of the most modern generation are capable of Power Factor 1 as well as large (temporary) overloads.

A last point not always well know : the 787 being an “electrical” aircraft it does not have bleed air for main engine start. Starting the APU just for that (its Mx is determined by running time but also cycles) is very costly, hence the Boeing advice to connect a third GPU (behind the LH wing) for that purpose although massive load shedding (Galleys, IFE, …) may enable MES with only two cables plugged in.

Below is an illustration of both Gnd Pwr Panels, the FWD one is quite unusually on the LH side and the 787 specific third connection is behind the LH wing.
B787_Ground_Power_Receptacles.jpg
Some of you may find the position of the neutral pin a bit odd.
Just a quirk in the presentation; actually it is correctly positioned ;)

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Air India is seeking offers from banks and financial institutions to raise US$110 million for making the advance payment for six B787-8s which the carrier has to acquire during the next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the first Vietnam Airlines 787 made its first flight today.

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Boeing confirms Air Canada converted seven B787-8s to B787-9s, while LAN (Chile) converted eight -8s to -9s.

Etihad (UAE) to introduce B787-9 service from Abu Dhabi to Zurich on 06 July 2015, replacing A330-300.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Aeroflot cancels 787 order

Aeroflot has cancelled its order for 22 Boeing 787s. "We have exercised our option to terminate the contract on the 787".

The airline says the decision was based on analysis of "capacity at the airport [Sheremetyevo]" and the "sustainability of the fleet development – sustainability in terms of the right mix of widebodies and narrowbodies and network development".

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Boeing has given the first 787 prototype ZA001 to a Japanese museum. It has just completed its final flight from Boeing Field to Nagoya (say hello to the Solar Impulse :) )

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Scoot, a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, today unveiled its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Registration 9V-OJE, featuring a special commemorative party-themed livery to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday.

The new 787-9 Dreamliner, named "Maju-lah", has been adorned with a colorful new livery that features the words "Happy 50th Birthday Singapore" and as many as 20 red balloons featuring the company logos of its Singaporean partners. It is learnt from the source that the Dreamliner will be put into service on July 8, 2015.

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Boeing passed the critical design review milestone on the B787-10 programme.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Crystal Cruises Luxury Air: 787 with 60 business class seats only

"...In 2017, Crystal's brand of Six-Star luxury will soar to new heights with the launch of Crystal Luxury Air, becoming the first in the luxury travel industry to offer extravagant around-the-world trips on the world’s most advanced twin-aisle Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The plush aircraft, which typically seats 300, will fly 60 guests in fully reclining business class seats to coveted destinations to which major airlines do not offer nonstop service. Each approximately 28-day itinerary will visit 10-12 remote and/or sought-after locales, with accommodations at some of the world’s finest hotels and resorts; cuisine prepared by celebrity chefs inspired by the destination; and world-class cultural entertainment..."

Source: Crystal Cruises:
http://www.crystalcruises.com/MediaCenter.aspx?PR=957

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Passenger wrote:Crystal Cruises Luxury Air: 787 with 60 business class seats only
Nice change from the cattle class 3+3+3 in most airlines now (JAL being about the only remaining exception).

Anything about the cost of such luxury 787 "cruises"? I guess that the price is included in the ALL IN offer and the flights are not available separately.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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KLM takes delivery of its first 787 in October 2015.

Corporate news update with a few photo's:
http://news.klm.com/klm-invests-in-cust ... ing-787-9/

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Boeing loses about US$23 million on every 787 Dreamliner passenger jet that leaves the factory. The company is trying to stem the losses by cutting the use of one of its signature ingredients: titanium.

The strong, lightweight alloy used extensively on the 787 costs seven times more than aluminium, and accounts for about US$17 million of the cost of the US$260 million plane. As part of its cost-reduction effort, Boeing considered shifting to less costly aluminium for seat tracks on the 787. Also Boeing has changed the cockpit window frame from titanium to aluminium, and has changed the frames of some doors from titanium to composite.

Boeing repeated its pledge to break even on the 787 this year on a cash basis. Boeing said the 787 deferred cost balance will keep rising until 2016, when the company plans to begin turning out 12 of the planes a month, up from 10 currently. At that point, Boeing expects the balance will start decreasing.

Full story: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/bus ... 06336.html (after Reuters)
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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With Air India, you're always sure you'll get surprises. Like a rat on board that forces a 787 to return to its departure airport Delhi. And even to replace the plane so that the passengers to Milan could finally travel to their destination.

A mouse trap anyone?

Read the story on The Aviation Herald: http://avherald.com/h?article=48a1f109&opt=0
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Air Canada has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9, a larger version of the Dreamliner 787-8. First designated routes for the 787-9 are nonstop services from Toronto to Delhi beginning Nov. 1 and to Dubai beginning Nov. 3. The Canadian flag carrier took delivery of its first Dreamliner in May 2014 and will receive a total of 29 new 787-9s by 2019, in addition to eight 787-8 aircraft already in operation.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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sn26567 wrote:With Air India, you're always sure you'll get surprises. Like a rat on board that forces a 787 to return to its departure airport Delhi. And even to replace the plane so that the passengers to Milan could finally travel to their destination.

A mouse trap anyone?

Read the story on The Aviation Herald: http://avherald.com/h?article=48a1f109&opt=0
I'm wondering how Air India is going to spin this, so they can blame the 787 for it, and request compensation from Boeing.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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El Al to Acquire $3.4 Billion of Boeing 787s to Renew Jet Fleet

(Bloomberg) -- El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. agreed to buy and lease as many as 15 Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliners, valued at $3.4 billion or more at list prices, to help refresh the carrier’s long-haul fleet.
The accord also includes purchase rights for an additional 13 planes, Boeing said Wednesday in a statement. The Dreamliner, which entered service in 2011, has a list price of $224.6 million for the smallest 787, though airlines typically negotiate a discount.
“The Dreamliner will be an excellent addition to El Al’s all-Boeing fleet and marks another chapter in a partnership between our two companies that spans over half a century,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Officer Ray Conner said in the statement. Boeing didn’t specify which of three 787 versions El Al was acquiring.
El Al currently has 41 Boeing planes in service, according to its website. The new 787s could be used to replace some older models such as the 767-300ER and the 747-400, helping the Lod, Israel-based carrier boost efficiency as it expands flights to North America. In June El Al added Boston to its list of three other U.S. and Canadian destinations.
Boeing is preparing to increase output of the 787 to keep pace with the wide-body jet’s growing backlog. The Chicago-based company boosted Dreamliner deliveries to 34 in the second quarter, the highest for any of its twin-aisle models, as Boeing topped analysts’ profit estimates.

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Re: Boeing 787 news

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Aeroflot may terminate a contract with Boeing for 22 B787s due to the delay in the delivery of the first aircraft to at least 2016.
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Re: Boeing 787 news

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sn26567 wrote:Aeroflot may terminate a contract with Boeing for 22 B787s due to the delay in the delivery of the first aircraft to at least 2016.
Probably also why they have put all their 777's, a large part of their A330's and some other A320series on sale, amongst other things? :mrgreen: Seriously, Aeroflot has major other reasons to cancel their 787 order (which was already indicated earlier, I might be wrong, but I think even on this forum). Not needing all these aircraft and not being best friends with the US at the moment (don't forget Aeroflot is still heavily controled by the government). They are also talking with Airbus regarding the A350 order, although they will probably not cancel that one.

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