Boeing announced this morning that the 747-8 freighter has been certified by both the US Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency, clearing the final hurdle before the first aircraft is turned over to Cargolux early in September. Here's my full story on the certification.
UPDATE 7:25 PM ET: It appears as though the first aircraft for delivery, RC502, will be handed over sometime in the first week of September.
Further, Boeing received notification from the FAA that the final six airport that were threatened by the Congressional budget impasse have been fully certified for use by the 747-8. Internationally, ICAO is expected to hand down its verdict on the 747-8's wake vortex separation rules "very soon", says 747 programme vice president of engineering, Todd Zarfos. The 747-400 is required to maintain a 4nm separation and 6nm spacing ahead of general aviation aircraft.
Meanwhile, the 747-8I is progressing into its certification phase of flight test, heading for certification and first delivery at the end of the year. First delivery will see the handover of RC002 to VIP completion, followed by first delivery to Lufthansa for airline service in early 2012.
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