The sixth and final Boeing 787 Dreamliner designated for flight test is now undergoing final assembly in Everett, Washington, the airframe manufacturer said this week. It said progress continues on the fleet with the first flight test airplane, ZA001, getting its paint touched up this week before finishing factory testing. Power was brought onto the second airplane, ZA002, in late February and build verification tests are progressing well. Production work continues on ZA003, ZA004 and ZA005. In … [Read more...] about Final flight test B787 in final assembly
production
Airbus cuts production as global traffic plummets
As widely expected, Airbus has announced the first production cuts in response to the deepening recession which has sent the global aviation market into a tailspin. A growing number of airlines are seeking to defer or cancel aircraft deliveries, as they are forced to cut capacity to try to match falling demand for air travel and air cargo. Airbus and its rival Boeing are finding their record order backlogs no longer offer protection against the impact of the global recession, which is forcing … [Read more...] about Airbus cuts production as global traffic plummets
787 Dreamliner production resumes
Production of Boeing 787 Dreamliners resumed at the end of January with the join of the fifth airplane designated for flight test. Designated ZA005, this fifth airframe is the first to be powered with General Electric GEnx engines with the previous four using Rolls-Royce engines. "This airplane signifies our return to a steady production rhythm," said Jack Jones, vice president of 787 Final Assembly and Change Incorporation. … [Read more...] about 787 Dreamliner production resumes
ILFC boss forecasts airframe production cuts
ILFC boss forecasts airframe production cuts International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy has projected that both Airbus and Boeing will cut production over the next two years by as much as 30-35 per cent. Airbus currently plans to produce close to 500 aircraft this year, while Boeing's target is 480-485 units, but just last week Airbus revealed that it had 12 order cancellations in January - three A318s, two A319s, three A320s and four A321s - while booking just … [Read more...] about ILFC boss forecasts airframe production cuts
Airbus tops Boeing deliveries in ’08 but predicts soft ’09
European aircraft maker Airbus once again took top spot in global airliner production for the sixth year running in 2008, with a 7 per cent rise in deliveries, to a record 483 planes. Deliveries comprised 386 A320 family aircraft, 85 A330s/A340s and 12 A380s. Its US rival, Boeing, delivered 375 planes in 2008 after a machinists' strike halted commercial aircraft production for 58 days. Airbus booked 777 net aircraft orders in 2008, down from 900 after 123 cancellations, topping Boeing's 662 net … [Read more...] about Airbus tops Boeing deliveries in ’08 but predicts soft ’09
Airbus tops Boeing deliveries in '08 but predicts soft '09
European aircraft maker Airbus once again took top spot in global airliner production for the sixth year running in 2008, with a 7 per cent rise in deliveries, to a record 483 planes. Deliveries comprised 386 A320 family aircraft, 85 A330s/A340s and 12 A380s. Its US rival, Boeing, delivered 375 planes in 2008 after a machinists' strike halted commercial aircraft production for 58 days. Airbus booked 777 net aircraft orders in 2008, down from 900 after 123 cancellations, topping Boeing's 662 net … [Read more...] about Airbus tops Boeing deliveries in '08 but predicts soft '09