Flightblogger today reports about possible new delivery delays of the 787 due to rework being done before delivering the aircraft to the customers.
As long as Boeing does not confirm that there is a new delay we have to talk about speculations – but so far, every time such a speculation came across there was at least some truth in it (just to sound polite…).
The article suggests that the first aircraft will still be delivered to ANA in mid February, but won’t be able to enter service without further modifications. I guess this is something the ANA management will not be happy with: they won’t take delivery of an aircraft without being able to take it with them – just makes no sense, even if we can assume that ANA will effectively get this aircraft for free.
But the exact timing of this first delivery does only have symbolic meaning anyway. (One of) the important question(s) is: when will Boeing be able to deliver the “Dreamliner” in numbers?
We would need more information about the specific problems and modifications that Boeing deals with. Jon Ostrower lists a few of them:
· a flight deck window popping sound
· cabin condensation issues
· reworking passenger doors
· workmanship issues on the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer (well-known problem)
· changes to the Trent 1000 engine (Package B)
The pooping sound of the window should not be a big issue – proper insulation should care for that.
Cabin condensation seems to point to a problem with the air conditioning. That could mean everything: if they are lucky they just have to adjust the software – if they are unlucky, the humidifier are too small and have to be redesigned.
Reworking the passenger doors should not be the thing that holds up deliveries for months – reworking the stabilizers was probably more complicated, but is not a new problem and led to the latest (official) delivery slip – among the problems with the Trent
So from what is being mentioned, a new slippage for months would not be explainable. The question is: which problems are not mentioned here?
I guess Boeing will soon have to give answers to the Flightblogger report – they should tell the public the whole story, they already lost too much credibility to just release the obvious…
