787 Charleston site begins to take shape

On Monday, 4/5, workers lowered a 35 ft. long steel girder onto the ground at Charleston International Airport, marking the beginning of construction for Boeing's 2nd 787 production line and transforming the South into a future hub of aviation.  Here are some facts for Boeing's new site:

Cost: $750 million
Location: Charleston International Airport
Completion Date: July 2011
Footprint: 1.2 million sq.ft.
Height: 114 ft.
# of workers: 4,000
Production Rate: 3 787's per month

News Link

Virgin Blue to purchase up to 105 737's

Earlier in February 2010 I had posted that Australian based budget-carrier Virgin Blue was in talks with Boeing to purchase up to 50 Next-Generation 737 aircraft.  Well today, that deal has been confirmed: 40 firm orders for the 737-800 model.  The deal also includes secured delivery positions for an additional 25 aircraft, future purchase rights for 30 aircraft, and 10 aircraft with cancellation rights, bringing the total possible order log to 105.  This is the largest single plane order for Virgin Blue.  Delivery of these aircraft are scheduled to begin in June 2011 up through 2017.  Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oy Oy Oy!!!

News Link

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

EU bans airlines from Philippines

So for any of you Filipinos out there who've been saving their hard-earned pesos for that summer Euro-trip, just make sure to book your plane tickets from an airline that doesn't fly from the Philippines.  Today the European Union added all airlines based in the Philippines to their most recent blacklist, meaning that they cannot fly or land within the 27 countries that comprise the EU.  The blacklist does get updated at least 4 times a year, so regulators in the Philippines have time to improve their airlines' safety standards up to the EU's requirements.  Time to step up and get your act together Philippines!

News Link

Photo Credit / CC BY-SA 2.0

767 line to become smaller, faster, leaner

An interesting article regarding the transformation of Boeing's 767 production line at Everett, WA to a smaller but more efficient one similar to the 777 line.  The change is designed to accomplish two goals: 1.) impress officials from the U.S. Air Force as Boeing vies to secure the Tanker Replacement contract (for which the 767 will be the main airframe), and 2.) free up space for the 787 "surge line," a temporary measure to allow 787 production to continue to run smoothly until the 2nd 787 line in Charleston, South Carolina is fully operational.  Currently, a 767 rolls out the factory doors to the tune of 1 a month, but soon that rate will be boosted to 3 aircraft every two months.  By June 2011, the line will be humming at a rate of 2 aircraft per month.  With 57 commercial 767's still waiting to be delivered, the 767 line is slowly reaching the end of its road, but if Boeing gets the Tanker, then the line will be rejuvenated for many more years to come.

News Link

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0

Ultimate-Load wing test completed for 787 Dreamliner

On Sunday, March 28th, Boeing completed a load test in which the wings of the 787 Dreamliner are bent upwards by about 25 feet.  This is to simulate 150% of the loads that the airframe could potentially experience during flight.  The link below contains a picture of the actual test, and you get to see how far up those wings get bent.  It almost looks like a bird with its wings flapped up.  I'd hate to be in a flight that experienced those kinds of aerodynamic forces.

News Link

WTO condemns Airbus "launch aid"

Today, officials from the World Trade Organization (WTO) have ruled that "launch aid" is unfair and illegal.  Launch aid is a controversial program in which European governments have provided Airbus with subsidies for launching their aircraft lines through risk-free loans that do not have to paid back until aircraft are sold.  While Boeing has had to use its own capital to develop and manufacture its aircraft, Airbus has been using these government loans instead.  The program was designed to help Airbus catch up with rival Boeing in the trillion dollar commercial aircraft business.  And it certainly has worked, with Airbus having seized the title of top aircraft manufacturer from Boeing for the last decade.  Already, launch aid has helped pay for Airbus' massive A380 superjumbo and is currently being used to help fund their 787 competitor, the A350.

News Link

News Link 2

Boeing Statement on WTO Ruling

787 completes flutter & ground-effects testing

The 787 Dreamliner recently completed both flutter & ground-effects testing.  Flutter testing demonstrates the aircraft's stability and its ability to dampen oscillations, while ground-effects testing demonstrates the aircraft's aerodynamic performance at low altitudes, especially close to ground.

Air Berlin to reduce 787 order

Some bad news to report for Boeing and the 787.  Today German carrier Air Berlin announced that they would reduce their current 787 order of 25 planes to 15, at a loss to Boeing of around $1.7 billion.  They also cut their 787 purchase options from 10 to 5 as well as deferring delivery of nine Next-Gen 737 aircraft from 2010-2011 to 2015.  All these moves were to allow Air Berlin to adjust to lower market demand for air travel. 

News Link

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC 2.0