Why are 787 deliveries suspended?

Boeing 787 deliveries had only recently resumed In May 2021, Boeing had to suspend deliveries of the 787, and deliveries only resumed in August 2022, so that lasted for well over a year. That issue was due to production flaws related to gaps between panels of the carbon-composite fuselage.



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June 6, 2023 at 12:01 p.m. Boeing Co. will delay deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft after uncovering flawed parts during production, a setback as the planemaker works to meet soaring demand for its long-range aircraft. Shares fell as much as 3.9% on the news, reversing an earlier gain.

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The problem involves a fitting for the 787's horizontal stabilizer installed by a Boeing production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company said. The horizontal stabilizer, located at the base of an aircraft's tail, allows a plane to maintain longitudinal balance while flying.

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The 787's latest problem mirrors production issues discovered over 2020 and 2021 that included improperly fitted shimming that led to paper-thin gaps between surfaces on the Dreamliner's fuselage.

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Boeing resumes 787 deliveries but faces catch-up to meet 2023 delivery goal. Boeing's most recent Dreamliner delivery pause came to an end on 15 March when the airframer handed over a 787-9 to German carrier Lufthansa.

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The longer the 787s remained on the ground, the more it would cost to get them to fly again, due to the maintenance work required. As a result, they were no longer airworthy.

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The Dreamliner is a successful aircraft, still in production with more than 1600 delivered or on order. The list price for a new Boeing 787-8 is $239 million dollars. Yet even as international travel opens again for these long-range aircraft, two Dreamliners barely ten years old are waiting for the wrecker's ball.

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Excellent design choices all around. Better sleep on long flights. Because the 787 is pressurized at about 6,000 feet rather than 8,000 feet, you'll breathe easier. More oxygen in your lungs means better sleep, less chance of headache, no difficulty breathing (flying at altitude is like sleeping at a ski resort).

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What Caused The Battery Fires That Grounded the Boeing 787 10 Years Ago? A combination of design issues, wrong assumptions, and inadequate testing procedures contributed to the fleet's grounding. In late 2012 Japan Airlines took delivery of another Boeing 787-800, and it entered into service shortly after.

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The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour. These aircraft are competitive, and nearly tie in economic performance.

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The typical lifespan of airliners The composite-driven Boeing 787 Dreamliner is designed for 44,000 flight cycles. These jets can theoretically last several decades with an average of two flight cycles a day. Unlike commercial airliners, fighter jets are unique due to their mission requirements.

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In addition, the 787 is much quieter than other aircraft, so pilots can enjoy a quieter cockpit. The 787 also offers improved cabin comfort for airline pilots. The Dreamliner's cabin is pressurized to a higher altitude than conventional aircraft, which makes it easier to breathe and reduces fatigue during long flights.

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To start the Boeing 777 vs 787 comparison, we must say that the 787 is a more fuel efficient aircraft than the 777 thanks to its use of composite wings and more aerodynamically efficient design.

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The 787 promised passenger comfort One of the promises of the 787 was improved passenger comfort. There are several improvements in this area, including higher cabin air pressure. The cabin is pressurized at 6,000 feet, as opposed to 8,000 feet on most other aircraft, including the 777.

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The 10 runners up include: Keyon Air flight 354 (2019) (318/318 killed) Orbit Air flight 855 (2022) (304/304 killed)

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The Dreamliner's lightweight composite structure contributes to reduced noise levels, both inside and outside the aircraft. The use of advanced soundproofing materials and quieter engines keeps the cabin environment more tranquil for passengers.

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While the rework of the fuselage flaws was occurring over the last year, Boeing lowered the 787 program's production rate to below five per month. The company reported 120 total undelivered 787 Dreamliners sitting in inventory during their July 27 second quarter 2022 earnings.

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Over 70% of the value of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner was provided by outside suppliers, including engineering work in USA, Australia, France, Japan and Italy. This was a much higher share than in the previous airplanes of the company where less than 50% was outsourced.

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Earlier this year, Boeing said it was moving from producing three to four 787s monthly. Boeing now says it “plans to ramp” 787 output to five aircraft monthly in late 2023. It is also sticking with a plan to produce 10 of the widebodies monthly in 2025 or 2026, and of delivering 70-80 of the jets this year.

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Boeing's order activity ticked down in August following a strong July, with the company booking deals for 30 aircraft and logging cancellations for four jets. However, deliveries were up, aided by the resumption last month of 787 shipments following a hiatus lasting the better part of the preceding 22 months.

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The Boeing 787 is one of the newest planes to come into passenger service. First delivered in 2011, the aircraft has become a favorite for airlines thanks to its extensive range and fuel efficiency. And, for passengers, the travel experience was much better compared to older aircraft.

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