In its third quarter 2009 earnings call, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney reiterated that his company remains on track for 787 first flight, adding that engineers will complete and validate the detailed design for the side of body modification later this week.
Boeing will then move toward completion of the installations of the structural fittings on the side of body. Once complete, ZA001 will go repeat some gauntlet testing and taxi tests before flying.
When asked about the schedule and the pace of the design, McNerney replied, "The schedule changes every day, problems come up, we have to deal with them."
McNerney added that within those events, the schedule for 787 first flight remains on track for the close of 2009.
Boeing will then move toward completion of the installations of the structural fittings on the side of body. Once complete, ZA001 will go repeat some gauntlet testing and taxi tests before flying.
When asked about the schedule and the pace of the design, McNerney replied, "The schedule changes every day, problems come up, we have to deal with them."
McNerney added that within those events, the schedule for 787 first flight remains on track for the close of 2009.
on October 21, 2009 12:02 PM | Reply
Jon,
By indicating that the" wing fix design and validation will be finished this week", did Jim McNerney recalibrate any balance between the possibility that there are problems ahead vs. increase in optimism regarding a successful fix and first flight in 2009.
Full well recognizing that there are always possibilities of something unexpected, did his responses to this issue, ( joking referring to certain "blogs") satisfy you that the fix is actually coming along on schedule and would thus dispel some of the suspicions you may have harbored as indicated in your recent report "Unanswered Questions".
on October 21, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply
Christmas break is the 23rd of December. 60 day notice must be given to union employees getting "notice". That would put the "axe" date on or before 10/23.
If there was doom looming on the horizon, Boeing would save $$$ not paying for the holiday break...
We're actually short people in many areas, and are going to be hiring to fill slots on the floor.
It's puzzling to me. Boeing doesn't seem to be slowing down, but everyone one else is saying keeping this rate is a "pipe dream".
We'll see...
on October 21, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply
Boeing maybe playing games with the White House and Pentagon to ensure they get the tanker contract. Basicly put,they are putting a loaded gun to their head saying unless we get the tanker contract we will be forced to cut "X" number of jobs.
on October 21, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply
"adding that engineers will complete and validate the detailed design for the side of body modification later this week."
Now lets play parse the words game (my favorite blog game).
Does this just mean the "fix" design by engineers is complete and validated and awaiting final installs prior to testing?
Or does this mean the wing testing (validation/ flexing)by engineers will be complete by end of week where the "fix" (side body modification) has been installed?
Or "whatever"?
on October 21, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply
Hmm, it says "detailed design"
not "installation/testing".
The "completion of the installations and testing" is
the next item ( and mentioned thus in Jon's
next paragraph ;-)
Another point: is "manufacture of parts" another
intermediate step consuming it's very own
time slot ?
More: does this indicate that the initial fix from
"the parts are in the mail" never constituted a
complete set of fixes or did they have to ditch the first
set of parts for the more problematic stringers?
It is quite endearing to see information divulged
regularly worded for a high amount of ambivalence.
uwe
on October 22, 2009 2:29 AM | Reply
Assuming they do have the fix done this week, it still adds up to being closer to the end of October as opposed to the beginning of October frame being bandied about back at the beginning of September.
In a week or 2, we will hear about it one way or another. Or would they wait until 1 week before their most recently "promised" first flight envelope expires before announcing a further delay.
Maybe between Christmas and new Years when most people won't be paing attention to Boeing and its "challenges"?!
This is assuming the highly unlikely possibility of a further delay.
on October 22, 2009 6:58 AM | Reply
Again with the ambiguity...
So if "engineers validate the detailed design" - then validate how? Does this mean they're pretty sure it should work (through modelling) or does it mean they *know* it will work following physical testing?
One means they can go ahead, install and get ready for first flight - the other means they can go ahead and install it but we could have to wait for the static results before first flight - and in the worst case scenario they may need to alter the fix again.
on October 23, 2009 5:23 AM | Reply
Good Lucky to you!
on October 26, 2009 1:24 PM | Reply
Do you know whether the design has been validated as of this date and whether they have moved towards the completion of the installation yet?