Israeli industry has been a key supplier of composite structures for the Boeing 787 since 2004, although not - as Israel Aerospace Industries may have wished given the US company's near-monopoly in the Israeli airline market - as a tier-one partner. Instead, IAI's commercial aircraft group is a supplier to Vought and Alenia Aeronautica, and the "most significant second-tier, risk sharing partner on the programme".
The company developed and produces composite floor beam sub-assemblies, door surround structures (titanium and composites) and composite and aluminium parts for the horizontal tail and pivot bulkhead. It is also responsible for managing a supply chain in Israel and overseas.
IAI admits it faced "difficulties during the start-up of the programme" due to the late approval of export licences for the new technologies, but says it is poised to complete its "back to green effort" by the second quarter.
Source: Flight International
