Boeing has reconfirmed that the effects of a 787 production delay are not yet carrying over to other major development programmes.
Major assembly started last week on the first 777F at Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington, and the airframer says that the programme's flight-test and delivery schedule remain on track.
"We are exactly where we need to be at this point in the programme and have all the resources we need to have," says Kim Pastega, Boeing's deputy programme manager and engineering leader for 777F.
Boeing originally scheduled the 777F test and certification phase to begin immediately after the 787's entry into service, but a nine-month delay for the 787 means the two aircraft's schedules now overlap. The 787 also is now scheduled to enter flight test in June.
"The majority of flight test is really around changes to the flight-test systems that are really in place," says Pastega.
The first aircraft is due to be rolled out in May and Boeing plans to build at least two 777Fs for the test phase, which should start in June. First delivery to launch customer Air France remains on track for late 2008. New German cargo carrier AeroLogic is set to be the second customer, early next year.
Source: Flight International
