Aircraft
Boeing Halts Movement of 747-8 Line
Boeing stopped moving airplanes forward on its 747-8 production line in Everett, Wash., today to help mechanics complete work that has mounted as the compa
Boeing stopped moving airplanes forward on its Everett, Wash., 747-8 production line to complete work that has mounted as it gears up for a production increase starting next April.
Boeing stopped moving airplanes forward on its Everett, Wash., 747-8 production line to complete work that has mounted as it gears up for a production increase starting next April.

Boeing stopped moving airplanes forward on its 747-8 production line in Everett, Wash., today to help mechanics complete work that has mounted as the company prepares to increase production of the type from 1.5 to two per month starting next April.

“In addition, as sometimes happens with the introduction of a new minor model, starting up regular production of the Intercontinental has created some challenges that are best addressed at this early state of the ramp-up,” a Boeing spokesman told AIN today. Some of those “challenges” involve what the spokesman described as a rebalance of the production line to complete some unfinished work and incorporate design changes driven by certain flight-test discoveries.