Page 7 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AvIATION BuSINESS

for the first time in July 2014 and is slated delivered 269 787’s as of April and in excess technical reliability issues, since induction
to enter service in 2017. Lufthansa is in of 44 million passengers have flown the into Air India fleet. Air India had taken up
the midst of a massive effort to implement Dreamliner. Boeing has been focusing on the matter of technical reliability issues
fuel efficiency gains across its entire fleet increasing production rates to reduce the with Boeing. These have been addressed
and reported in May, that fuel efficiency large order backlog of 835 airplanes (as by Boeing through the necessary
across its passenger fleet in 2014, saw of 30th April) and has delivered 41 787’s modifications for reliability enhancement
an average of 3.84 l/100pkm compared from the beginning of this year till April. on a regular basis.” AI also grounded one
to 3.91 l/100pkm in 2013. The Lufthansa Boeing factories at Everett and Charleston of its 787’s, VT-ANI in Mumbai for almost
Group is going through a massive fleet are now producing 787s at the rate of 10 a year from April, 2014 to Feb 2015 due
modernisation that will see delivery of 272 a month, compared to seven a month last to a technical issue. During the period
new aircraft by 2024 (worth Euro 38 billion year. The two assembly lines at Everett and the aircraft was grounded, VT-ANI was
at list prices). Charleston will produce 12 Dreamliner’s a also used as a source of spares for other
The Dreamliner was a truly month from next year and increase this to 787’s in the AI fleet. The airline also has
revolutionary airplane that promised to 14 airplanes a year by 2020. The 787 has an option to convert its remaining orders
deliver outstanding operating economics now also entered revenue service in the from 787-8 to 787-9 and has constituted a
and passenger comfort for the airlines that USA, with American Airlines. The airline Senior Committee to evaluate the matter.
purchased it. Unfortunately for Boeing, the which has 42 787’s on order, has already Boeing has provided four possible 787-9
787 was beset with a number of electrical, taken delivery of three 787s and will take seating options to Air India in two class
software and production related issues delivery of another 10 by the end of this (Business & Economy) configuration, able
that hurt the airplane in its early days of year. American has chosen to defer the to accommodate 294 to 310 passengers.
airline operations. The entry into service deliveries of the remaining aircraft on AI’s current fleet of 787-8s, in a 256 seat
of the type was far from smooth and the order and will now induct eight, 13 and configuration can seat 18 passengers
airplane underwent a particularly trying eight airplanes over 2016, 2017 and 2018 in Business Class and 238 in Economy
period, during its initial years of service. In respectively. It continues to hold options Class. The 787-9 can carry 18,000 kg of
another instance of the continuing issues for 58 Dreamliner’s. Cargo compared to 15,000 kg on the 787-
faced by the Dreamliner, the Federal Boeing has high hopes for its 787- 8. The airline has taken delivery of 20
Aviation Administration on May 1st issued 10 which was launched at the previous Dreamliner’s till date and the 21st aircraft
an Airworthiness Directive (AD) applicable edition of the Paris Air Show in 2013, is due to arrive in India by the end of June.
to all 787’s certified in any category calling with commitments for 102 airplanes. Delivery of the remaining seven aircraft
for, “a repetitive maintenance task for As of April 30th, this year, Boeing had will be completed across 2015 (four) and
electrical power deactivation on Model 787 increased that number to 142 orders. The June 2016 (three). Air India entered into
airplanes.” The “AD was prompted by the last airline to opt for the 787-10 was All a purchase agreement with Boeing for
determination that a Model 787 airplane Nippon Airways (ANA) which finalised its purchase of 23 Boeing 777, 27 Boeing 787
that has been powered continuously for order for three 787-10s in March, worth and 18 Boeing 737 aircraft in December
248 days can lose all alternating current approximately $ 900 million at list prices. 2005. Dreamliner deliveries were delayed
(AC) electrical power due to the generator The airline was also the launch customer by more than three years from September,
control units (GCUs) simultaneously for the Dreamliner. The 787-10 will be able 2008 to December, 2011.
going into failsafe mode. This condition to seat 300-330 passengers and fly up to
is caused by a software counter internal 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km). RR is
to the GCUs that will overflow after 248 developing the 78,000 lbf Trent 1000 TEN
days of continuous power,” said the FAA. (Thrust, Efficiency and New technology) for
The AD was being issued “to prevent loss the Boeing 787-8/9/10, scheduled to enter
of all AC electrical power, which could service in the middle of 2016. Compared
result in loss of control of the airplane,” to the Trent 1000 which entered service in
said the aviation regulator. The AD affects 2011, the TEN will deliver fuel efficiency
28 airplanes of US registry and the cost on gains in excess of five percent. In March, OPPOSITE TOP: The A350
US operators is estimated at $ 2,380 per Air China selected the Trent 1000 to power XWB is rapidly catching
deactivation cycle. its 15 new Boeing 787-9s. up with the 787 when it
Fortunately for the Dreamliner, it has The early glitches on the Dreamliner comes to deliveries yet to
delivered on its promise of outstanding proved particularly problematic for be made. Pictured here is
the A350 XWB during its
operating economics and passenger Indian national carrier Air India (AI). A maiden landing at Spain’s
comfort which provided customer airlines statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Adolfo Suárez Madrid-
with a reason to wait for reliability Aviation in the Indian parliament said, Barajas airport in February
modifications to arrive. Boeing has “Dreamliner aircraft have experienced this year
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