Boeing 787 news

[itami]

The state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, to be put into service by All Nippon Airways Co. as early as September, landed at Osaka's Itami airport Tuesday in a test flight from Haneda airport in Tokyo.

Hundreds of aviation fans flocked to viewing stands at the airport to take a look at the 56.7-meter-long plane.
From Wednesday, the aircraft will fly to Okayama, Hiroshima, Osaka's Kansai International Airport and Central Japan International Airport, serving Nagoya, for more test flights.

[sn26567]

Topping out on ETOPS

One final set of testing down—one to go. The 787 team is celebrating another major accomplishment. This past Sunday during the flight of ZA102 (the ninth 787 to be built), the program completed its extended operations (ETOPS) flight demonstrations. Just last week, that same airplane flew the longest 787 flight to date at just over 18 hours. This wraps up the planned ETOPS testing required before first delivery to ANA later this quarter.

Following a minor software modification next year, the Dreamliner will be qualified for 330 minutes of ETOPS capability—meaning it can fly five and a half hours away from an alternate airport.

Now that our planned ETOPS testing is in the books, the team will spend the next few weeks finishing Function & Reliability (F&R) demonstrations that lead up to initial Type Certification of the 787 with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The final step will be to submit our paperwork to the FAA. Congratulations to the team!

From the Boeing website, posted 2 Aug 2011

[RoMax]

More 'good' news. Saterday Boeing will roll out the first B787 to be delivered (ZA101) fully painted (in the special colors ANA chose for their first few B787's) and furnished with the new interior (domestic I assume as they will use at least the first 4 B787's on domestic service only) of ANA.

Other news from ANA related to the B787 is less possitive. They planned to get 14 B787's this financial year (running until 31 March 2012) and 10 more in the next financial year. But because of the lower demand after the earthquake (and its results) they reduced this to 12 788's this financial year and 8 in the next financial year. The total orders stays at 55 (of wich 15 B789's), so these 4 B787's will be delivered later.

About the B748F, Atlas Air gave more information about the delivery shedule of their B748F's. They expect their first one in October followed by two in November. This shedule is based on the latest shedule released by Boeing. Atlas Air has 12 B748F's on order and previously said they hoped to get the first 3 in the fourth quarter of this year. These 3 will be operated by British Airways World Cargo under a five year wet lease agreement. Initially deliveries to Atlas Air were sheduled to begin in 2010.

[sn26567]

More 'good' news. Comming Saterday Boeing will roll out the first B787 to be delivered (ZA101) fully painted (in the special colors ANA chose for their first few B787's) and furnished with the new interior (domestic I assume as they will use at least the first 4 B787's on domestic service only) of ANA.

I read some time ago that they will also be used for charter flights to Hong Kong and China.

[RoMax]

I read some time ago that they will also be used for charter flights to Hong Kong and China.

For the promotion of the aircraft they will operate some charter flights out of Tokyo Narita (starting about a month after delivery), with the first flight to be operated to Hong Kong. But after these few (don't know exactly how much) charter flights this B787 will start flying domestic services out of Tokyo Haneda. Starting with only 2 destinations if I remember correctly.

[itami]

There's even a special site dedicated to the ANA Dreamliner :thumbup: Let's hope we will see it soon at BRU.

[RoMax]

Some more information about the roll out of ZA101 Saterday. ANA will organise a press event Saterday in Everett to show their first B787, in special paint and with new interior, to the world.

ANA is now really making a lot of publicity for the B787, so let's hope nothing goes wrong anymore...

[earthman]

Following a minor software modification next year, the Dreamliner will be qualified for 330 minutes of ETOPS capability—meaning it can fly five and a half hours away from an alternate airport.

Does anyone know what this software modification is?

[RoMax]

Does anyone know what this software modification is?

It has something to do with changed rules about low fuel allerts, but there is not much information about this.

[sn26567]

Boeing on Saturday afternoon rolled out the first 787 Dreamliner to be delivered to launch customer All Nippon Airways, decked out with the blue and white colors of the Japanese airline.

A large "787" at the front, blue interlaced lines in the back, while still keeping the main features of the traditional ANA livery, it clearly wants to mark the beginning of a new era.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/ ... 0B20110807

[RoMax]

For a lot of pictures of the aircraft see the two links below. I can't help it, but I like it. On some of the interior pictures you see the windows are dimmed to block the anoying sun, but you can still look outside.
And you have a 2-4-2 configuration in economy, but the 4 seats in the middle are split up in 2-2 by a double arm rest ( http://www.seattlepi.com/business/galle ... 338780.php). And this is just the domestic/regional interior of ANA. I look forward to see their long haul interior on these B787's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airlinereporter/

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/galle ... 335940.php

BTW, for the ones who wonder what this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flightblog ... otostream/) is (as it is different to the previous APU outlets of the B787). See this link of flightglobal, including a picture of how it was originally: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fligh ... gs-78.html.

[sn26567]

The Boeing 787-8 was designed, according to Boeing itself, for 210-250 passengers.

ANA has unveiled its configuration for three different uses:

Domestic: 264 seats (C12 Y252) (C – Premium Class). This configuration might be a little bit dense in economy
Short-Haul International: 222 seats (C42 Y180). This fits with Boeing specifications.
Long-Haul International: 158 seats (C46 Y112). This should be quite comfortable!

[RoMax]

The Boeing 787-8 was designed, according to Boeing itself, for 210-250 passengers.

ANA has unveiled its configuration for three different uses:

Domestic: 264 seats (C12 Y252) (C – Premium Class). This configuration might be a little bit dense in economy
Short-Haul International: 222 seats (C42 Y180). This fits with Boeing specifications.
Long-Haul International: 158 seats (C46 Y112). This should be quite comfortable!

264 is indeed dense, but also mind that there are just 12 business seats (so only 2 rows) and these are domestic business, so less room than long haul business. And when you look at the pictures, it seems there is a lot of space (and I think it's nice they have split the 4 seats in the middle). So probably not much leg room, but still quite comfortable for a short flight.

But 158 seats... that's really low, must be very comfortable (I assume the leg room in economy will be quite generous too).

[sn26567]

The ANA seat map (and very comfortable business seat) for domestic flights:

https://www.ana.co.jp/dom/inflight/seatmap/b8p/

[earthman]

So what's the seat pitch in economy? It only says 57 inch in business class.

[RoMax]

And after the B748F certification testing ended, the B788 is comming very close to this too. 24h of FAA testing has to be done and Boeing expects that certification testing will be finished before 15 August (so, they want to finish the testing this weekend).

[earthman]

How long until first delivery if they do finish the testing? Or was the date already set?

[RoMax]

How long until first delivery if they do finish the testing? Or was the date already set?

It depends on how long the FAA will take to certificate the B787. But delivery is sheduled for September, depending on certification it will be mid to late September normally.
ANA plans to start commercial operations 1 month after delivery, and they plan to fly their first charter flight to Hong Kong late October, so that corresponds with a late-September delivery.

[sn26567]

United Airlines plans for Dreamliner introduction


The old Continental Airlines' logo features on the new United 787s

The lead Boeing 787 Dreamliner for United Airlines has entered the assembly phase at Boeing’s Everett facility near Seattle. In early 2012, United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the aircraft, marking the first of 50 Dreamliners for the airline.

This first United 787 will be configured with 36 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst (the old Continental Airlines product name being kept on), 63 extra-legroom seats in Economy Plus and 120 seats in Economy. Customers will experience improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, increased cabin humidity, reduced cabin pressure and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.

“We are proud to be the first North American airline to receive the 787, which will be a game changer for the new United and the industry,” said United Airlines President and CEO Jeff Smisek. “The 787 will be a very comfortable, customer pleasing aircraft, and with its range, fuel efficiency and superb operating economics, the 787 will allow us to enter new long haul markets and also replace older, less-efficient wide-body aircraft.”

The company will announce the 787 flight schedule later this year.

Source: AERBT and www.united.com

[earthman]

These must be happy days for MR_Boeing.