Boeing 787 news

[RoMax]

The first 787 for TUI (G-TUIA for Thomson) left the production line (not painted yet, mind the white color is a protective layer, to protect the composite material from UV-light and things like that, that's being painted before these parts arrive at Paine Field for final assembly):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabian404/ ... /lightbox/

[sn26567]

Thanks for sharing the picture, in which only the colour of the rudder can give an indication that the plane will go to a TUI company.

[RoMax]

Thanks for sharing the picture, in which only the colour of the rudder can give an indication that the plane will go to a TUI company.

No need for sarcasm, yes the rudder color is the only thing that indicates it's for a TUI company, it was just to show the first 787 for the TUI-group has left final assembly.
It was the latest to leave 787 FAL, so when taking a look at the production list, this is LN92, G-TUIA for TUI/Thomson.

But anyway, I'm curious to see it in the full new TUI-paint.

[sn26567]

[off topic] The rudder is always painted first, as well at Boeing as at Airbus, because the weight of the paint is significant enough to alter the rudder balance. Hence the rudder is painted first, then balanced, and finally mounted on the aircraft. The test flight is most of the time carried out on an unpainted aircraft (except for the rudder). [/off topic]

[RoMax]

[off topic] The rudder is always painted first, as well at Boeing as at Airbus, because the weight of the paint is significant enough to alter the rudder balance. Hence the rudder is painted first, then balanced, and finally mounted on the aircraft. The test flight is most of the time carried out on an unpainted aircraft (except for the rudder). [/off topic]

Uhm...thanks for that explanation tough I believe most of the readers of this forum already know that. But what has it to do with my previous post(s)?
And no, test flights on most 787's aren't carried out on unpainted aircraft. Even 787's that aren't painted at Paine Field do very limited flight test before they are ferried to the airport where they'll be painted, after which they return to Paine Field for further flight testing (I don't say this is the same for every type of aircraft).

But I don't see the actual connection with my previous posts? Is it wrong to post a picture of an unpainted 787 with just a blue rudder, to indicate the first 787 build for TUI has lef the production line (which simply was the point of my first post)? This is still the 'Boeing 787 and 748 news'-topic I believe, and the first TUI build 787 may be seen as news.

But if you prefer talking about the bad aspects only, here you go:
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 534945.xml

[sn26567]

Is it wrong to post a picture of an unpainted 787 with just a blue rudder, to indicate the first 787 build for TUI has left the production line (which simply was the point of my first post)? This is still the 'Boeing 787 and 748 news'-topic I believe, and the first TUI build 787 may be seen as news.

Nothing wrong with it. I just wanted to underline why there was one piece with paint on an otherwise unpainted aircraft.

[RoMax]

Nothing wrong with it. I just wanted to underline why there was one piece with paint on an otherwise unpainted aircraft.

Oké, no problem than.

[RoMax]

China (CAAC) once again confirmed they are delaying certification of the 787 because of the problems occuring with these aircraft recently.
Tough I still have the feeling this is a political game, as they are delaying the certification already for months, before the recent surge of incidents fast after eachother.

The JAL 787 that spilled fuel in BOS last week underwent a test in Tokyo and guess what, it spilled fuel again. An open valve on the aircraft caused fuel to leak from a nozzle on the left wing used to remove fuel. The incident in BOS is said to be caused by another open valve.
JAL is looking for the cause, Boeing said it's aware of the incident and working on it with JAL. The aircraft stays on the ground for the time being.

[sn26567]

The first 787 for TUI (G-TUIA for Thomson) left the production line (not painted yet, mind the white color is a protective layer, to protect the composite material from UV-light and things like that, that's being painted before these parts arrive at Paine Field for final assembly):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabian404/ ... /lightbox/

Thomson Airways will use the 787 on flights to Barbados, Cancun, Holguin, Male, Mombasa, Montego Bay, Phuket, Puerto Plata & Punta Cana in Winter 2013/14.

[sn26567]

To avoid any mishaps, United Airlines had two 787s on standby at LAX for its inaugural flight to Tokyo...

[RoMax]

To avoid any mishaps, United Airlines had two 787s on standby at LAX for its inaugural flight to Tokyo...

What's the source for that? That route started 3-4 January I believe. I know UA has send their 3(?) latest 787's to LAX for some pre-EIS work and the new flights out of LAX, but I don't know anything about having them on standby especialy for that flight (tough it may be right, which is why I would like to know the source).

[sn26567]

To avoid any mishaps, United Airlines had two 787s on standby at LAX for its inaugural flight to Tokyo...

What's the source for that?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... Collection

More 787 news:

Qatar to deploy B787s on three new routes

Qatar Airways deployed a B787 on the Doha–Zurich route today will deploy another on its Perth-Doha services from February 1, making it the first carrier to operate the aircraft on routes to and from Australia.

The airline has already started operating the B787 on its weekly services to Munich and Zurich routes, followed by one of its double daily Frankfurt services on February 1, that day Qatar will also increase its frequencies on the Munich and Zurich routes to daily.

Qatar has taken delivery of four B787s since November but was forced to ground one aircraft in December because of electrical problems.

[RoMax]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... Collection

Thanks (tough I can only read a very small part of the article, the subject of the article is clear).

Qatar has taken delivery of four B787s since November but was forced to ground one aircraft in December because of electrical problems.

So to be clear, these are the problems that started with United and happened on 3 aircraft fast after eachother, caused by electrical panels of the same manufactering lot.

[sn26567]

To avoid any mishaps, United Airlines had two 787s on standby at LAX for its inaugural flight to Tokyo...

A superb picture of the first United 787 flight from LAX to NRT: http://www.airliners.net/photo/United-A ... 2213635/L/

[sn26567]

Japanese government launches additional 787 probe

Japanese transport minister Akihiro Ota said Japan’s government will conduct its own review of the Boeing 787 program.

According to multiple reports from Japan, Ota said at a news conference he is concerned about the frequency of 787 incidents that have occurred lately and wants to determine why they happened. He noted Japanese authorities are in touch with FAA on the issue and plan to cooperate with the US regulator and Boeing in conducting the review.

[RoMax]

This is related to the JAL fuel leaks.

[sn26567]

Boeing is well aware of the 787's recent reputation and headlines, and pushing hard to highlight the satisfaction of the airlines in some recent success stories.

http://boeingblogs.com/randy/archives/2 ... ories.html

[Passenger]

Official NTSB press release 14th Jan 2013:

"Second Investigative Update on Boeing 787 Battery Fire in Boston":

http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2013/130114.html

(sorry if this has already been posted elsewhere)

[Desert Rat]

Again smoke in the cabin on a 787....all 787 flights cancelled in Japan.

[Unilitha2]

It seems all 787 have been grounded until further investigation is conducted by Japan and this due to another smoke incident which happened on ANA this time. Another major backdown for Boeing, lessons to take for Airbus ? Should manufacturers promise less ambitious schedule for their new programmes in order to ensure that such problems do not occur once delivery has been made ? Is Boeing going to pay the Japanese carriers for these issues ?