Project Ahead Of Schedule, Under Budget

Boeing has selected Goodrich Corporation and Honeywell to provide exterior lighting for the 7E7 Dreamliner. In addition, Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation, of Japan, has won the cabin services system contract, its first, for the all-new airliner.

"This has been an incredibly busy year of building an exceptional team," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 7E7 program. "We have awarded well over 90 percent of the systems work for the airplane at this point."

With its seventh work package for the 7E7, Goodrich will provide runway turnoff and taxi lights as well as wing illumination, cargo handling lights and logo lights, which illuminate an airline's logo on an aircraft's vertical stabilizer.

"The 7E7 will make use of our High Intensity Discharge (HID) technology," said Uwe Bloecker, president of Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems. "The system can lower direct maintenance costs and stretch time between unscheduled repairs. In addition, HID technology is much more efficient."

Honeywell's new work package, its fourth for the 7E7, incorporates signaling technology in the airplane's navigation and anti-collision lighting system. Honeywell's new Astreon light-emitting diode (LED) systems have been tested to 20 times greater life than traditional lights and carry extended warranties.

"LEDs have dramatically longer lives than traditional lights, so Astreon lights will provide airlines a welcome reduction in operating costs," said Frank Daly, president of Honeywell's Air Transport Systems.

Matsushita's cabin services system provides the digital interface to the common core system for cabin amenities such as the passenger address system, cabin lighting, electronic dimmable windows and the emergency evacuation system.

Takashi Mizuma, president of Matsushita Avionics Systems, said, "Twenty-five years ago we began our business with Boeing as the passenger services system supplier for the then new 767. Now, together with Boeing, we continue to be part of the right team at the right time."

FMI: www.boeing.com