All Things Boeing

Saudi arms deal will include Apaches & Black Hawks

2010-08-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

On top of a proposed deal to sell 84 Boeing F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the Obama administration is also poised to sell about 70 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (made by United Technologies) and up to 60 Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopters to the birthplace of Islam. If the deal is pushed through, it would be the largest overseas U.S. arms sale in history, with estimates putting the total cost to as much as $60 billion over 10 years. The arms package will include flight simulators, spare parts, and long-term support, but the aircraft and rotorcraft involved will not have certain weapon systems installed that U.S. officials deem "conducive to regional stability" or would be seen as objectionable by Israel or Congress.

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New video of first 787 Dreamliner

2010-08-10T12:35:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to a neat 3 minute video that showcases the interior of ZA001, the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to come off the production line.

787 Video

Saudi Arabia to acquire F-15 Fighter Jets

2010-08-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Obama administration is proceeding with a plan to sell 84 Boeing F-15 Fighter Planes to Saudi Arabia. The 10-year arms package, which is worth about $30 billion (and is one of the biggest deals of its kind), is designed to help the Saudis check the growing Iranian threat within the Middle East. The proposed sale has come under a bit of fire from Israel. However, the U.S. has made efforts to quell Israel's concerns by agreeing not to equip the F-15's with advanced long-range weapons, which Israel had strongly opposed when the deal was first developed. Along with the F-15's, the deal will also include several dozens of UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters from United Technologies Corp.

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Inmarsat to purchase 3 Boeing satellites

2010-08-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

U.K.-based Inmarsat has announced that it will purchase three Ka-Band satellites from Boeing for a total cost of around $1 billion, beating French satellite maker Thales Alenia Space. The satellites will allow Inmarsat to provide high mobile broadband speeds (up to 20 times faster compared to its existing fleet of 11 L-Band satellites) to its commercial and government clients by the end of 2014.

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Cathay Pacific orders 777-300ER

2010-08-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today, Cathay Pacific agreed to purchase six 777-300ER aircraft from Boeing (in addition to 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft as well). The order comes amidst increasing passenger revenue and cargo traffic for Hong Kong's largest airline.

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Boeing to move C-130 & B-1 from Long Beach to Oklahoma City

2010-08-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

In what company officials say is a cost cutting move in light of expected cuts in defense spending, Boeing has announced that it will be relocating both its C-130 Avionics Modernization and B-1 programs from Long Beach, CA to Oklahoma City, OK. The move will begin around the first quarter of 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. Out of the 800 workers that are currently employed by both programs, about 550 will be relocated, with the rest to be transitioned into another programs within Boeing.

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P-8A Poseidon T3 Completes First Flight Test

2010-08-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Aircraft T3, one of 6 flight-test aircraft for the Navy's P-8A Poseidon program, successfully completed a 2.8 hour flight test from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA. During the flight, T3 performed various in-flight systems checks including autopilot flight modes and APU and engine shutdowns and re-starts. Next up for T3 is for it to join sister test-aircraft T1 and T2 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (located in Maryland) where it will undergo further ground and flight tests. T3 has been designated as the P-8A program's mission system and weapon certification aircraft. The U.S. Navy plans on purchasing up to 117 P-8A Poseidon aircraft (which is based on a Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 airframe) to replace its aging fleet of P-3 Orion anti-submarine/maritime surveillance aircraft.

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Emirates offers advice on future of 777

2010-08-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Good read from the Seattle Times about Tim Clark, president of Dubai-based Emirates, whose extraordinary growth has been nothing short of remarkable in spite of the slow global economy. Because Emirates owns the world's largest 777 fleet (86 aircraft with 46 more on order), they wield significant influence on Boeing's future plans for their 777 family, whether it be improvements to the existing airframe or an all new aircraft type. Clark's advice to Boeing? Develop a new family of twin-engine aircraft "bigger" than the largest Dreamliner, using the existing 777-300ER as a baseline. It also must be able to fly several hundred miles farther than the 777-300ER on a full 55-ton payload. Boeing does need to make a decision soon on its 777 plans with the Airbus A350-1000 (which is viewed as a direct competitor to the 777) scheduled to come into service within the next decade. Does Boeing invest billions of dollars to develop a new 777 aircraft just to satisfy one customer, albeit a very powerful and very rich customer???

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American Airlines to purchase 35 737-800s

2010-07-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

American Airlines has decided to exercise purchase options for 35 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft. The options were included as part of a previous order for 84 737 aircraft that began arriving back in 2009. American plans on using the 737 aircraft to replace its archaic fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft, which are about 35% less fuel efficient compared to a 737-800. They hope to achieve a total fleet of 195 737-800 aircraft by the end of 2012. I've tended to avoid flying American on domestic flights because they mostly fly these old MD-80's with its crappy interiors and cramped seats. But with these new 737-800s coming into service, I would be more willing to make the switch back to American.

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Qatar Airways announces order for 2 777-200LRs

2010-07-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at the Farnborough Air Show, five-star airline Qatar Airways announced that it would be purchasing from Boeing 2 777-200LR Worldliner aircraft. The total value of the order is around $501 million at list prices. Currently Qatar flies an extensive 777 fleet that includes the aforementioned 777-200LR, the 777-300ER, and the 777-F, a freighter variant.

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Okay Airways orders 10 737-800s at Farnborough

2010-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Beijing-based airline Okay Airways signed an agreement with Boeing to acquire 10 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, with an order value of around $800 million at list prices. Okay Airways is China's first privately owned airline, serving domestic routes near its hub a Tianjin Binhai International Airport. They are also an all-Boeing operator, with a fleet mostly comprised of 737-800 aircraft.

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Air Austral orders two 777-200LRs at Farnborough

2010-07-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today at the Farnborough Air Show, French carrier Air Austral announced an agreement to purchase two Boeing 777-200LR Worldliners. The order is valued at around $501 million at list prices. The 777-200LR is an ideal aircraft for this particular airline. With a total range of 9,395 nautical miles, it can connect any two city-pairs in the world nonstop. In Air Austral's case, it allows for nonstop flights from Paris to the island nation of Reunion, a vacation hotspot located in the South Indian Ocean and Air Austral's base of operations.

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Air Lease Corporation to order 60 737-800s at Farnborough

2010-07-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Another company in the growing aviation leasing market, Los Angeles based Air Lease Corporation, has just signed an agreement with Boeing for 60 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft. 54 of those planes are firm orders, while the remaining six are purchase options. Although a relatively new company (Air Lease was just recently founded in February 2010), it has at its helm Steven Udvar-Hazy, a former major player in the leasing industry when he was the head of International Lease Financing Corporation (ILFC).

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Avolon orders 12 Next-Gen 737-800s at Farnborough

2010-07-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dublin, Ireland-based leasing company Avolon placed an order with Boeing for 12 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft at this year's Farnborough Air Show. The order is valued at around $921 million at list prices. Avolon is a brand new leasing outfit in the aviation sector, having just launched recently in May 2010. Hopefully this is a sign that the aviation industry is coming out of its cyclic downturn and heading for greener pastures, especially with the number of orders that both Boeing and rival Airbus have been racking up at this year's show.

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Royal Jordanian orders 3 787s at Farnborough

2010-07-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Several more Dreamliners were placed on the growing order book today at the Farnborough International Airshow. Jordan's national carrier, Royal Jordanian, placed an order with Boeing for three 787-8 aircraft, boosting their entire 787 fleet to 11 planes. The order is worth about $500 million at list prices. Jordanian Air (the first Middle Eastern airline to order the 787) plans to utilize its 787 fleet on North American routes, which include New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.

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Norwegian Air Shuttle orders 15 Next-Gen 737s at Farnborough

2010-07-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Capping yesterday's flurry of aircraft orders at the U.K. Farnborough Air Show is an order by Norwegian Air Shuttle for 15 Next-Generation 737-800s. To be more precise, the order is an exercise of purchase rights that Norwegian Air had secured way back in 2007, when they had made an order of 42 737's and 42 purchase rights. The total order is valued at around $1.15 billion at list prices.

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GECAS announces order for 40 737-800s at Farnborough

2010-07-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

Chalk up another order for Boeing at this year's Farnborough Air Show in England. Leasing giant GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) announced an order with Boeing for 40 Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft. The total order value is around $3 billion at list prices.

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Emirates orders 30 777-300ERs at Farnborough

2010-07-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today at the Farnborough Air Show in the U.K., Boeing cemented an important order for 30 777-300ER's from Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, one of the most dominant and luxurious airlines in the Middle East. Emirates is already the world's largest operator of Boeing 777's, and is the only airline to fly every model within the 777 family.

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British Airways places order for 24 787 Dreamliners

2010-07-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, 7/18, British Airways announced that it has placed an order with Boeing for 24 787 Dreamliner aircraft. They will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, and are scheduled to enter service around 2012.

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Boeing 737 faces tough challenges from its competitors

2010-07-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

Interesting read from BBC news regarding Boeing's 737, the world's best-selling commercial aircraft. It talks about the lean production system that Boeing has employed to manufacture these aircraft, its current status in the soon-to-be-crowded short-haul commercial aircraft market, and its future (new more fuel-efficient engines on the existing platform, or an all new aircraft design like the 787).

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Boeing officially submits bid for U.S. Tanker contract

2010-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Today Boeing submitted its proposal for the U.S. Air Force aerial tanker contract, at a whopping 8,000 pages and over 1,200 graphic images. I guess you need that much information so as to satisfy the Air Force's 372 mandatory requirements for their new tanker. Airbus had already submitted their proposal yesterday. As expected, Boeing will be pitting their 767-based tanker against Airbus' A330-based one, with a contract award to come no later than November 12, 2010. Whether the Air Force decides to include into the contest the prickly matter of illegal subsides that the WTO had levied against Airbus remains to be seen. Here are some fun facts about Boeing's tanker (officially dubbed the NewGen Tanker):

* Based on commercial 767 aircraft
* Digital flight deck
* Electronic displays that are currently used on the 787 Dreamliner
* Advanced KC-10 refueling boom with expanded refueling envelope,
increased fuel offload rate, and fly-by-wire control system
* 40-year service life
* Burns 24% less fuel and weighs less than A330 tanker
* Saves American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs
* Supports approximately 50,000 U.S. jobs and more than 800
suppliers in more than 40 states
* Manufacturing to take place in existing facilities in Washington and
Kansas

NewGen Tanker Website

New player in U.S. Tanker contract

2010-07-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

Looks like there will be a 3rd wheel in the ongoing saga that is the U.S. Air Force Tanker Replacement Program. On July 2nd, the Department of Defense confirmed that Ukranian aircraft maker Antonov, in partnership with California-based Aerospace Inc., has been approved to enter the contest. Antonov will offer three models from its product line: the AN-124 and AN-122, which are commercial passenger aircraft currently in use today, and the AN-112, which Antonov states will be specifically designed to meet all of the U.S. Air Force's tanker requirements. The tankers would be manufactured in the Ukraine and then finished at a new U.S. based factory. As to where that factory will be located remains undecided. Now all we need is for a Chinese-based company to enter the contest to make things even more interesting!

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Boeing finalizes 787-9 design

2010-07-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 1st, Boeing announced that it had finalized the basic design for the 787-9, which is a stretched version of the Dreamliner product line. With a firm configuration set, Boeing and its network of global suppliers will now be able to begin producing parts for the new model. The 787-9 can carry up to 290 passengers to distances as far as 8,500 nautical miles (about 4% farther than the 787-8, which is currently undergoing flight testing and FAA certification). Compared to the 787-8, the 787-9 will have two new fuselage sections added. First delivery of the aircraft is expected to occur around late 2013. Meanwhile Boeing confirms that they are still on track for first delivery of the 787-8 to launch customer All Nippon Airways by the end of 2010.

Airbus eats crow after WTO deems Launch Aid to be illegal

2010-06-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

The long running trade dispute between the European Union and the U.S. over illegal trade subsidies given to Airbus (called "Launch Aid") reached a significant milestone yesterday. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Launch Aid constituted an illegal subsidy, and must be stopped immediately within 90 days. Launch Aid helped to fund most of Airbus' airplane programs, most notably the development of the super-jumbo A380. That was deemed to be an illegal subsidy, although similar aid for the A350 (a direct competitor to Boeing's 787 and 777) was ruled to be a legal subsidy. Check out the case scorecard link below for a list of Airbus programs and related infrastructure for which illegal subsidies were provided. As to what this means now for the upcoming U.S. Air Force Tanker replacement contest remains to be seen, since Airbus' offering is based on a A330 platform (which was deemed to have received illegal subsidies during its development). An expected decision on a countersuit against Boeing claiming that it also received illegal subsidies from state governments and the Pentagon is expected to come July 16th.

WTO Case Scorecard

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Can 787 survive a crash landing?

2010-06-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Interesting read from the Seattle times that discusses the 787's survivability during a crash landing. Because the 787 is comprised largely of composite materials (specifically carbon fiber infused with an epoxy resin), it won't behave like a traditional aluminum aircraft. There was some initial concern that the 787 structure would shatter into pieces (like a ceramic bowl dropped on the ground) during a crash, whereas an aluminum airframe would bend but remain intact. Currently the FAA is getting close to certifying the 787 Dreamliner as safe for air travel, so it appears Boeing has figured out how to make the aircraft crashworthy. But there are some who still remain unconvinced...

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