Posted on 03/19/2008 2:02:08 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
The largest customer for Boeing's 787 is predicting another six-month slip in deliveries and has for the first time raised the specter that the new passenger jet's troubles extend beyond production delays to design problems.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy told a JPMorgan investor conference that structural design changes have to be made to the 787's center wing box, a move that would require retrofits of the first two flight-test airplanes that are being produced. Calling the state of the program "not pretty," Udvar-Hazy said he doesn't see the 787 making its first flight until this fall and predicts another year will be needed after that for certification. That means the first 787 delivery, to Japan's All Nippon Airways, would be pushed back until the third quarter of 2009, about a year and a half behind the original date of May 2008.
Boeing's last public forecast envisioned the 787 entering commercial service in early 2009, though the company has said it would update that estimate in April after a detailed review of program milestones is completed. Boeing officials had repeatedly stressed that the 787 program's multiple delays were due to problems with suppliers and not design flaws, as was the case with Airbus' much-delayed A380 transport.
A Boeing spokeswoman for the 787 program, in an emailed response to a query, declined to discuss the wing box or program schedule until the ongoing program review is complete. "While we respect Udvar-Hazy and he is a valued customer, he was sharing what is his opinion," she wrote.
Udvar-Hazy's comments to investors, made Monday, were reported in a research note by JPMorgan analyst Joseph B. Nadol, 3d. The ILFC chief also sees major challenges for the much-anticipated 787-10 stretched version of the jet. He believes that variant would require a new center section, a wing redesign, higher-thrust engines and new landing gear.
Photo: Boeing
Steven Udvar-Hazy is also the guy whose comments killed the original A350, forcing Airbus to redesign it and come out with the A350XWB.
This was a departure of how Boeing constructed aircraft as you know, seems to be a huge failure.
Boeing sure were yapping it up about the French set backs weren’t they? Rule one...don’t gloat....
Hey, so was I!
If all this is true, the french have a chance to catch up with their A350.
darn.
And people complain about Boeing losing the tanker contract...
The corporate world has become so damn dishonest and untrustworthy. Nothing these people say can be believed.
Can´t say that I share your sentimnent. Actually, I feel Schadenfreude. I´m still having the evil comments on Airbus´ miscalculations in mind.
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