Oh noes! Boeing is teh Airbus!

[Thrawn]

I guess maybe delays in all projects of this complexity are inevitable.  



"Boeing 787 deliveries pushed back 6 months
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 | 12:40 PM ET
The Associated Press


Boeing Co. is delaying initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner by six months due to continued challenges in completing assembly of the first airplanes, the company said Wednesday.

Boeing said deliveries that had been scheduled to begin next May will be pushed back to late November or December 2008.

The first flight, already rescheduled once from the initial target of earlier this fall, now is anticipated around the end of the first quarter of 2008.

Boeing said the postponement will not materially affect its earnings or guidance for next year.

"We are disappointed over the schedule changes that we are announcing today," chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement from the company's Chicago headquarters.

"Notwithstanding the challenges that we are experiencing in bringing forward this game-changing product, we remain confident in the design of the 787, and in the fundamental innovation and technologies that underpin it."

McNerney had publicly voiced confidence as recently as four weeks ago that the airplane maker would be able to deliver the first 787 on time next May to Japan's All Nippon Airways Co., despite skepticism among industry observers following the first postponement.
Assembly, software problems cited earlier

On Sept. 5, Boeing formally pushed back the first test flight to mid-November or mid-December due to complications with final assembly and finalizing flight-control software. That would have left the company just five to six months before the first delivery, or about half the time it took to test the 777 a decade ago.

The company first acknowledged problems meeting the original test-flight schedule in August, when it cited challenges with out-of-sequence production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and systems integration activities.

Boeing shares, which had moved higher Wednesday before the late-morning announcement, fell $2.05, or two per cent, to $99.40 in midday trading after briefly falling as low as $97.54."

[Ripsnort]

Yeah, heard this this morning. My buddy who works with overseas vendors (Parts Planner) said all the parts Europe partners are making for the 787...have a 75% rework on them. So much for farming out the work to Europe.

challenges with out-of-sequence production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and systems integration activities.

Software integration is what I'm right in the midst of...trying to prevent the "Airbus Syndrome" with partners using CATIA V4 (like germany) and doing conversions to V5 (Like France). This is what the biggest significant delay for the A380 was, specifically wirebundles and installations.  Boeing software engineers are finding out its not as easy to prevent.

[Spikes]

Dang...

[Ocean27]

Boeing 787 deliveries pushed back 6 months

Always wondered what it meant when a plane was given clearance for push back.


Meanwhile... A380 to make maiden flight later this month - proceeds of ticket sales to go to charity! Buy yours on eBay.

[Vulcan]

karma.

(I'm not pro one or the other but after seeing you guys bagging the airbus guys on this so much... its gotta be karma)

[Viking]

Boeing's having sympathy pains ... how cute!

[Goth]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Yeah, heard this this morning. My buddy who works with overseas vendors (Parts Planner) said all the parts Europe partners are making for the 787...have a 75% rework on them. So much for farming out the work to Europe.

LOL

[cpxxx]

Not sure why there is this constant comparsions between the A380 and the 787. Comparing apples and oranges.

I knew someone would find a way of blaming the 'Euros'.

said all the parts Europe partners are making for the 787...have a 75% rework on them. So much for farming out the work to Europe.

You mean 75% of ALL the parts supplied by the 16 European subcontractors or maybe just one or two subcontractors with a problem. I suspect the latter.  There might even be problems with American and Japanese subcontractors too.

Anyway, hope they sort it out successfully. I'm looking forward to seeing and flying in the 787 and indeed the A380.

In my opinion, I think there is a tendency these days to set too ambitious a schedule. A very advanced aircraft like the 787 is bound to hit problems.  

Ryanair the Irish low cost airline is talking about buying 50 787's for a transatlantic service. They're suggesting fares of $12 one way:). Going by their track record. I wouldn't be surprised. Just don't expect to fly out of JFK.

[Ripsnort]

Hehe, so in todays Boeing news:

"Today is Depression Screening Day at Boeing"
The Boeing Employees Assistance Program is taking part in a worldwide effort to help identify people who may unknowingly be suffering from depression. Hundreds of Boeing employees have already taken the anonymou confidential screenings since the beginning of the month. Phone screenings are available to all employees while onsite screenings are available at certain company sites across the United States Call 1+800-------"

CPx--The primary problems are the european parts and assemblies since we don't have nearly the number of parts and assemblies built in the U.S.  This is because Boeing likes to farm out work to countries where prospective customers live and work.

The bad news is it is indeed a delay. The good news is it is a PRODUCTION delay, not a technical design or engineering delay. Airbus had both, pushing back the A380 about 2 years. Knock on wood, ours will be limited to 6 months and remain "production" issues.

[Fishu]

Originally posted by cpxxx
In my opinion, I think there is a tendency these days to set too ambitious a schedule.

That seems to be a common problem nowadays. I wonder why they never learn?

Every week I read news of projects delayed. Also cost estimates are always underestimated. I guess the date and cost only serves as a part of marketing.

[Ripsnort]

Cpx, Fishu, to answer your question in a Readers Digest version:
Its because we're a global market relying more on others than stuff built in house. You have to remember that 30 years ago, Aircraft companys made EVERYTHING themselves except for the interiors and engines.

[Yeager]

Back in teh day Boeing used to own an airline (UA) AND an engine manufacturer (PW)....congress didn't like that......and did what congress usually does when a monopoly exists, and some whiner complains about it

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/chasingthesun/companies/united.html

[Yeager]

Im guessing that the delay is more like a 90 day delay, but they are going for a full 180 day delay just in case further slips should occur.  No need to suffer the indignity of a schedule screw up twice.  Im betting the 787 will beat the six month delay by at least 60 days, thereby delivering well ahead of (re)schedule

[Dowding]

"In other news, internet access by Boeing employees has been revoked. In a move that was described by one anonymous insider as 'a fundamental breach of human rights', Boeing have refused to comment on whether the recent 787 delay is related.

A spokesman was quoted as saying,

"We feel that the countless, inane posts on BBS systems is a useful marketing tool. They are cheaper than marketing specialists and don't suffer from a sense of reality which would otherwise impede your average marketeer. However, there comes a point when the operations of the company are adversely affected by employees slobbing about in front of Internet Explorer. We are fast approaching this point."

Boeing's share price leapt 10 points on the release of this statement."

Source

[cpxxx]

Yes indeed the global marketplace. The European A380 is 50% American and the American B787 is 50% foreign or whatever the proportion is.

Yes indeed, those were the days when manufacturers did it all. Well most of it. I seem to remember from my 727 days that there were plenty of vendors, although obviously not the main airframe etc.