Orders this week
Biman Bangladesh plans to order 4 x 787-8s for delivery in 2013
Air Niugini set to order the 787 for delivery in 2015
Gulf Air finalises the deal with Boeing for 16 x 787-8s for delivery 2016
Analyst Goldman Sachs reports that it does not expect the first 787 to be delivered before the third quarter of next year, representing another delay of at least six months.
Citing “sources”, Goldman Sachs says that power-on of the first aircraft – scheduled for the end of March – has slipped until June, which will further delay the first flight and have a knock-on affect on the planned production ramp-up.
Goldman Sachs says final assembly of other development 787 airframes has been delayed, and that it expects the flight-test programme – slated to begin three months after power-on of the first aircraft – will last 11 months.
“Boeing continues to underestimate the amount of work required on the 787,” says the analyst. It adds that it has lowered its production forecast for 2009 from 80 to 50 aircraft.
The 787 programme is already around nine months behind schedule, with flight testing originally due to start in the third quarter of last year and first deliveries scheduled for May this year. Boeing has already begun searching for interim aircraft capacity to help early 787 customers affected by the delay.
ATI affiliate Flight International notes sources indicate that the latest delay to the programme could be even more severe than Goldman Sachs is warning.
Boeing explains that when its executives detailed the latest delays on 14 January “they did not comment on any more delivery schedule commitments”.
However, Boeing notes its management did commit “to conducting a more thorough and far-reaching assessment related to a robust 787 program delivery schedule”.
Boeing explains that examination is continuing, and “we have committed to communicating the results to our customers around the end of the first quarter”.
The manufacturer stresses the complexity of the process, which involves working with the supply chain to assess the impact of the schedule change on the flight test program and first deliveries.
SourceFlightglobal /image boeing.com