Boeing Again Delays Dreamliner Test Flight
JUNE 23, 2009, 9:37 A.M. ET
By KEVIN KINGSBURY
online.wsj.com
Boeing Inc. again delayed the maiden flight of its 787 Dreamliner, saying a section of the aircraft needs to be reinforced.
The company, which said it will be several weeks before it will release a new flight and delivery schedule, will disclose the potential effect on earnings when it releases second-quarter results next month.
The news comes as another blow to Boeing, which had maintained that the first flight of the next generation aircraft would take place by the end of June. The Dreamliner was supposed to enter service in May 2008, but its complexity has led to production problems and has postponed launch and delivery dates.
Chicago-based Boeing on Tuesday said the problem was discovered during recent regularly scheduled tests. A preliminary analysis indicated that flight tests could proceed this month, as planned, but the aerospace company opted for a postponement.
"Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled," said Scott Carson, head of Boeing's commercial-plane business, "but we ultimately concluded that the right thing" was to have a permanent fix. "Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes, and this is not an issue related to our choice of materials or the assembly and installation work of our team," he added.
Other testing on the airplane will continue, Boeing said.
Write to Kevin Kingsbury at kevin.kingsbury@dowjones.com
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