Noteworthy Developments

747-8

Boeing Launches the 747-8

Boeing launched the new 747-8 Intercontinental and 747-8 Freighter on November 15 with orders from Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airways. The launch marks a new era for the 747 program, introducing an advanced wing design, all new GEnx engines and an innovative new interior. A reaffirmation of Boeing's focus on improving passenger experience for long-haul flying, the 747-8 is entirely consistent with the 787 and 777 family philosophies.

The 747-8 passenger and freighter airplanes offer the right balance of risk and reward.

The lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger or freighter airplane
The only large airplane that fits today's infrastructure
New revenue opportunities—carries more passengers and cargo
A new benchmark in fuel efficiency and noise reduction
The right size for the large-airplane market

Cape Town Aircraft Financing Treaty To Go Into Effect March 1, 2006

Malaysia has become the eighth country to ratify the Cape Town Treaty, enabling the treaty to go into effect March 1, 2006. This treaty will help expand asset-based financing and leasing of large commercial airplanes and engines by establishing a commercially oriented legal framework to protect financier's interests in aircraft. The treaty will reduce the cost and risk of financing international aircraft, which helps open up new markets of capital and benefits developing countries by bringing a wider range of financing alternatives within their reach.

Effective implementation includes establishing, efficiently operating, and appropriately regulating (by ICAO) a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week international registry system in which property interests in aircraft and engines will be recorded and their priority determined.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank supports this treaty and has lowered its exposure fees by one-third on aircraft financing for buyers from countries that ratify and implement Cape Town.
The following countries ratified the treaty: Panama, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the U.S., Oman, Ireland and Malaysia.

Boeing Launches New Branding for Converted Freighters

Boeing has adopted Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) as a brand identifier to distinguish 747-400 and 767-300 passenger-to-freighter conversions from Special Freighter (SF) airplanes. The SF designation has become widely used throughout the industry for any passenger-to-freighter conversion, giving no indication of the level of Boeing involvement in the conversion process. The BCF designator ensures airlines, leasing companies and financiers that Boeing has integrated the entire conversion process, including engineering, parts, quality assurance, kitting, project management, certification, and post-conversion customer support.

The first 747-400BCF is scheduled to enter service with Cathay Pacific in December 2005.
To date, the 747-400BCF program has 65 firm and option conversion orders.
Launched with 3 firm and 4 option conversions from Japan's All Nippon Airlines, the 767-300BCF program will see its first conversion enter service in the 4th quarter of 2007.

Singapore Airlines Chooses Boeing Integrated Maintenance Solution

Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the latest advance in Boeing supply chain services. The Integrated Maintenance Solution blends Boeing Integrated Materials Management (IMM) and Airplane Health Management (AHM), enabling Boeing to assume full responsibility for:

Materials management, including purchasing, inventory management and logistics for all expendable aircraft parts.
Real-time information on airplane health that will reduce schedule interruptions and increase maintenance efficiency.