March 2008, Issue 11

Noteworthy Developments

Boeing Order and Program Update:

787:

  • Boeing revises 787 first flight and delivery plans; adds schedule margin to reduce risks of further delays – first flight moves into 4Q 2008; deliveries to begin 3Q 2009
  • Boeing moves 787 Dreamliner static test airframe to testing rig
  • Boeing confirms Gulf Air’s intent to purchase 787 Dreamliners
  • Air Pacific orders additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners
  • Boeing receives follow-on order for 787 from Privatair
  • Boeing, Gulf Air close 787 Dreamliner deal
  • Boeing, Air Europa of Spain announce order for eight 787 Dreamliners
  • Final assembly begins on another Boeing 787 Dreamliner - second flight test airplane loaded into first position
  • Boeing 787 Dreamliner successfully completes fuselage barrel test
  • Alenia Aeronautica completes horizontal stabilizer ultimate load tests

    777:

  • First boeing 777 freighter enters final assembly
  • Boeing, Biman Bangladesh Airlines sign deal for 777s, 787s
  • Lufthansa Cargo / DHL Express joint venture airline “Aerologic” to operate Boeing 777 freighters
  • Boeing, Cathay Pacific Airways celebrate 777-300ER delivery
  • Boeing delivers KLM’s first 777-300ER
  • Boeing, Garuda Indonesia announce 777 order
  • Boeing delivers first 777-200LR for a U.S. Carrier to Delta Air Lines
  • Boeing delivers 700th 777

    747:

  • Boeing delivers 1,400th 747 to GECAS for lease to Airbridge Cargo Airlines
  • Boeing completes 50-percent design release for the 747-8 freighter

    737:

  • Boeing delivers first Next-Generation 737 to Norwegian Air Shuttle
  • Boeing, Continental celebrate airline’s first 737-900ER delivery
  • Boeing receives order from Romanian carrier Blue Air for Next-Gen 737s
  • Boeing, Lion Air celebrate 10th 737-900ER delivery
  • Boeing, Aviation Capital Group announce 737 order
  • Boeing, Lion Air announce order for 737s
  • Boeing, Rak Airways sign deal for 737-800s
  • Boeing confirms 737 order from Turkmenistan Airlines

    CAS:

  • First 767-300 Boeing converted freighter takes flight
  • Boeing helps Singapore Airlines e-enable for the future
  • Boeing subsidiary Aviall to establish business operations in India
  • Boeing to provide airplane health management system to Qantas

    Other:

  • Boeing reports double-digit first-quarter earnings growth and record backlog
  • Boeing sets third consecutive record for commercial airplane orders in 2007 - 1,413 net orders (1,423 gross) surpasses 1,044 net orders reached in 2006. Record orders for 787 Dreamliner, 737 program, Boeing freighters.
  • Boeing, Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation to fly first commercial jet on biofuel
  • Continental Airlines, Boeing and GE Aviation announce plans for sustainable biofuels flight demonstration


    • Boeing, Airbus Join to Improve Environmental Performance

    Boeing and Airbus CEOs signed an agreement April 22 in Geneva to work together to ensure global interoperability in air traffic management as part of an effort to help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. The companies will seek the acceleration of improvements to the world’s air transportation management system in order to increase efficiency and eliminate traffic congestion. “Airbus and Boeing are great competitors, and this has been a critical element that has sharpened our focus and efforts toward making aviation more efficient,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Scott Carson. “While our approaches often differ, we are working towards the same goal - to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.”

    Boeing Flies Fuel Cell-Powered Airplane

    In February and March, Boeing conducted three test flights of a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells. It marked a first in aviation history for manned flight powered by the technology. The tests were conducted in Spain by Boeing Research & Technology Europe using a modified Dimona motor glider. According to researchers, fuel cells potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. Over the longer term, they could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units for large commercial airplanes.