Aircraft
787 First Flight Delayed Again
Boeing confirmed today that it will delay first flight of the 787 Dreamliner once again, from the end of the first quarter to around the end of the second

Boeing confirmed today that it will delay first flight of the 787 Dreamliner once again, from the end of the first quarter to around the end of the second quarter, due to what 787 program boss Pat Shanahan described as inaccurate assessments of the time needed to complete so-called traveled work in Everett, Wash. The delay will push the target for first deliveries into early next year from late this year and, according to Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Scott Carson, the company will not meet its previous target of 109 deliveries for next year.

Carson wouldn’t issue a new estimate, however, citing a desire to base any new projection on more hard facts gleaned from discussions with partners than on analysis based on assumptions. He said that Boeing would issue a new rate schedule for next year by the end of this quarter.