First 787 Slated To Fly For ANA

Boeing's head of commercial airplanes Jim Albaugh told reporters Thursday that there are only 24 hours left on the Dreamliner test program, and that he expects the process to be finished up this weekend. That would clear the way for FAA certification of the company's new airliner, and first delivery to launch customer ANA sometime in September.

Albaugh was quoted in Bloomberg News as saying "We think the FAA will hold their type certification review board next week, and we hope to get our ticket so we can start delivering the 787 yet this month."

Boeing has about 830 orders for the composite airliner, and is sold out through 2019, Albaugh said. But delays in development in materials and other hurdles have the airplane three years behind schedule.

Albaugh also said that certification of the 747-8 will extend the life of the four-decade-old design by 30 or 40 more years. And, he said, the decision to hang new engines on the 737 means it won't start building another new airplane until after 2020. He said the company is looking at whether to replace the single-aisle workhorse, or build an aircraft to "fill the gap" left when the 757 went out of production.

FMI: www.boeing.com