SINGAPORE -- Boeing is considering suspending work on the -3 shorthaul variant of its troubled 787 twinjet as it fights to get production of the long-range -8 lead version and development of the -9 stretch back on track.
A 787 programme source says the delay in development of the -3, “May be a precursor for cancellation. Regardless, we're stopping work on it.”
The source adds that the short range -3, “being developed simultaneously with the -9…was really stretching the company's resources. This will free up people to work on the much more popular -9 variant.”
The -3, so far ordered only by 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL), had originally been due to enter service in 2010, a few months ahead of the -9.
“We have been informed that there is a possibility of a delay to the 787-3,” says JAL. “We have not received a new delivery schedule since the delays to the programme were announced. Obviously the 787-3 is important to our plans. It has a shorter wingspan, which is important at key airports in Japan.”
Boeing is drawing up a new delivery schedule for all 787 customers in the wake of production delays which have pushed the aircraft’s first flight back to mid-2008. The manufacturer says it expects to announce its plans at the end of the first quarter and is unable to comment on any possible resequencing of the variants before then.
“We are working through delivery schedules with our suppliers,” says Boeing marketing vice president Randy Tinseth. “We won’t get the plans done until the end of the first quarter.”
On the future of the -3 variant, Tinseth says: “We have a commitment to ANA and JAL to build that airplane.”
on February 21, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply
It is much cheaper to fund the improvement of Japanese airports than to build the 787-3. Both parties are taking benefits.
on February 21, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply
It will be interesting to see if ANA and JAL will "wait and see".
It will need some very humble negotiation between BCA and their customers.Maybe 788's at a good price, but one cannot ignore that the 783 was the first aircraft ordered, and obviously the model of choice.
The 748I may just look less of an option to ANA for their VLA requirement in view of this.
on February 21, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply
I think this has been in the air for some time.
http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3496727/
Boeing has better ways to use its resources.
Just add 2000nm to the 787-3 and many airline become interested.. 787-5 ?
on February 22, 2008 4:31 AM | Reply
Friday, Airbus' announcements?
on February 22, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply
GE might 'step up to the plate' here as they did with the 773ER and persuade Boeing to go exclusive with the GEnx.
on February 22, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply
Did you read carefully the article and the other one posted by Jon of the ILFC's chairman interview?
"The -3 is streching company resources"
"I think Boeing is carefully looking at the -10, but I think it’s slipped in terms of its priority."
Boeing DO NOT have the resources to build the -3 nor the -10. They are also committed to other programas like the 748 (which could be potentially delay) and the 77F.
Of course Keesje every costumer would love the short range 787-3 (JAL and ANA),or the ULH 787-8HGW (QFA), or the 300-seater 787-10 (QFA, BAW), or the 300-seater long-haul 787-10HGW (UAE), or he medium haul 787-5 (Airliners :)), or the 380-seater 787-11 (Jon's & Mr. Hamilton plane)....
"Boeing has better ways to use its resources"
Yes, Their priorities would be putting the 787 into the certification process and ramping up the production
"It is much cheaper to fund the improvement of Japanese airports than to build the 787-3. Both parties are taking benefits."
Airport infracstructre?? Never in this life..
Thanks Jon for the inside
on February 23, 2008 8:36 AM | Reply
Quoting reply above:
''GE might 'step up to the plate' here as they did with the 773ER and persuade Boeing to go exclusive with the GEnx. ''
- But how will that help the 787-3?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Boeing is staring at an enormous compensation bill for the 787. And like many folks, I cant see the current delays being the last. The compensation on delaying up to 50 787-3s alone must be huge, despite there being no development problem with the 787-3 varient per se.
on February 23, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply
A delay to the -3 tallies with the shift in resources from the -3 to the -9 at the supplier where I work.
on February 23, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply
Would the last commenter please email me at flightblogger (at) gmail (dot) com at their earliest availability.
Thanks,
Jon
on February 24, 2008 3:40 AM | Reply
"GE might 'step up to the plate' here as they did with the 773ER and persuade Boeing to go exclusive with the GEnx".
Answer to fourth quote above:
Money, money from GE to help launch the craft.
Engine exclusivity is not hurting the 773ER sales. The same goes for future craft.
If compensation payments take root for the delays, it will hurt. I hope this will not happen for Boeing's sake.
on February 24, 2008 4:36 AM | Reply
Sorry to side track this thread as it appears to be more airframe related than engine:
This question keeps coming back to me:
Will Pratt's GTF series engines kill RR triple spools since geared fans they will prove to be much more fuel efficient?
As things stand, the triple spools falls off in fuel efficency after climb-out when cruise is reached.
on February 25, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply
The 787-3 is a kludge (chopping the wings without cutting the fuselage weight). With no prospect of sales outside Japan it may well die. And there would be no mileage in GE funding a kludge. A better-engineered mid-range version would make sense, but Boeing don't have the resources to have that in the sky any time soon, even with GE funding.
Remember the GE funding for the 777-200LR/300ER was to keep out the RR Trent which had a three ton weight advantage on the 200ER/300 and, once proved reliable, made the base GE90 unsaleable. The GE exclusivity DID harm sales - for several years few airlines would touch the 90-115 versions. Things between GE and RR are much more even on the 787, so GE has no need of such desperate measures.
on February 25, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply
GE exclusivity are not hurting 300ER sales now.
GEnx will be the leading powerplant on the 787 as the GE CF6 series was to the 767.
We have not seen the end of the GE90 series developent yet. I envision it going with a composite fan case in the future as a weight saving measure and also redesigned combustors and maybe blisks.