Dreamliner's woes pile up

[oz_mark]

Interesting article on some reported issues outstanding with the 787. Perhaps the most worrying is issues around whether it will get ETOPS certification on entry into service:

Business & Technology | Dreamliner's woes pile up | Seattle Times Newspaper

As Boeing prepares to announce yet another delay for the 787 Dreamliner — at least three months, possibly six or more — the crucial jet program is in even worse shape than it appears.

[...snip...]

Boeing designed and marketed the 787 as an ultra-long-range jet, and its customers are counting on that capability from the moment the plane enters service.

But the 787 wouldn't be allowed to fly more than 60 minutes from the nearest airport without the certification known as ETOPS, for Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards. That would drastically curtail the use of the jet for many airlines, including launch customer All Nippon Airways of Japan.

Hickey, a former Boeing engineer, put Boeing on notice that to get an early ETOPS rating the company will have to do more to demonstrate the plane's reliability, including specifically the reliability of the engine and electrical systems.

 

[straitman]

# Dreamliner's woes pile up

A little more information of interest.

Airlines Calculate Boeing 787 Delay Damage

Dec 20, 2010
By Adrian Schofield
Queenstown, New Zealand

With airlines bracing for yet another slip in Boeing’s 787 delivery schedule, some of the program’s key customers are considering how much longer they can reshuffle their current fleets and what the damage will be to their long-term plans.

Boeing has yet to tell airlines how many months the latest delay will be after problems during flight-testing forced a timetable review. For every customer, the pain threshold is a little different. They can cope in the short term, but eventually the delays will severely cramp the growth plans that were based on the promise of the 787’s range and efficiency.

Three of the most important 787 customers spoke to Aviation Week about the program delays during a Star Alliance event here Dec. 13-14. All Nippon Airways is the launch customer of the initial 787-8 variant, United Airlines is slated to be the first North American operator and Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9.

 

[straitman]

.... and this article specifically with regard to Jetstar.

Jetstar Says No News From Boeing on 787


Dec 20, 2010
By Leithen Francis

Jetstar has received no official word from Boeing on whether there will be a further delay to the 787 program, Jetstar CEO for Australia and New Zealand, David Hall, told Aviation Week yesterday on the sidelines of an event at Singapore Changi Airport to promote Jetstar’s inaugural nonstop flight from Melbourne to Singapore.

Hall says Jetstar is still hoping to receive its first 787 in mid-2012, as scheduled. If there is a further delay to the 787 program, then it could lead Jetstar and other carriers to seek Airbus A330s for interim lift.

Jetstar has eight A330s, with a ninth coming in March, when it launches its Auckland-Singapore service, and it expects two more in 2011, says a Jetstar spokesman.