• As part of its launch, the airline is offering today Wi-Fi, free of charge, to passenger’s flying to Havana, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.

Madrid, Spain | March 7, 2016– Air Europa, the airline division of Globalia, continues to press ahead with its plan to modernize and expand and, as from today, offers Wi-Fi service to passengers on-board three Airbus 330, hand in hand with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, world leader in in-flight entertainment and in-flight communication.

As part of its launching activities, during today, all Air Europa passengers flying to Havana, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo will enjoy Free Wi-Fi during the flight.

Progressively, the airline belonging to Globalia Group, will install Wi-Fi via satellite on all its Airbus aircraft that operate long distance routes, the new Boeing 787 arriving this month will also have this service. Additionally the B787 aircraft will come with the system eX3 IFE to offer the passenger a unique in-flight entertainment experience.

The aircraft that offer Wi-Fi on-board, thanks to the innovative system eXConnect of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, are two Airbus 330-200 and one A330-300, it is estimated that from the month of July the entire long haul fleet with have Wi-Fi service on board.

The Wi-Fi service will be activated, above 10.000 meters, when the seat belt light is switched off, therefore it is not available during take-off and landing. From then on, passengers wishing to connect must keep the airplane mode activated on the mobile device in order to connect to the Wi-Fi “Ontheair” and after opening a browser select that rate most suits their needs.

Air Europa has selected three rates to choose from 7 euros for 15 Mb; a popular rate of 13 euros for 30 Mb that permits a longer navigating time or a premium rate of 20 euros which permits 50 Mb to navigate.

The installation of Wi-Fi service on-board Air Europa aircraft, that aims to improve in-flight entertainment, ensuring a great comfort and amenities; is a new step in the modernization that the airline is immersed in and that aims to establish itself as one of the best and most modern airlines in the world. Also, from next April changes will be introduced to catering service introducing new menus, together with Newrest and the chef Antonio Fernandez, will be offered on-board medium and long haul flights.

Thales:
This year at the Singapore Air Show, the Asian growth that everyone talks about, raised it’s head and the folks at SpeedNews duly noted it and said: “A total of 50 deals were made at Singapore Airshow 2016, representing an increase of 14% over 2014. These included 10 deals with a total value of US$12.3 billion, as well as 40 deals with undisclosed values announced by 20 companies. Singapore Airshow 2016 saw close to 10% increase in trade visitors, as well as a nearly 5% increase in the number of VIP delegations. There was also an increase in the number of local companies exhibiting in the Singapore Pavilion, with 36 companies taking part this year, compared to 29 companies in 2014.”

As you know, this Hot Topic is partially about recent Thales activities in Singapore since they announced that they won a deal with Singapore Airlines and the Thales CEO told IFExpress: “This is a major win for us and a significant step forward in becoming number one in the IFE market. It’s a contract that is more than a year in the making.” Dominique Giannoni, CEO, Thales InFlyt Experience. He went on: “This presence was crucial in winning Singapore Airlines, the campaign to win over Singapore Airlines lasted more than a year, with major factors being Thales’s willingness to understand how the airline wants to integrate with passengers and customizing the system accordingly.” Here are some facts & figures from Thales’s  Giaime Porcu, about the recent activity there to give our readers a frame of reference:

• Thales has been present in Singapore since 1973 and today boasts one of the largest local operations of any European Aerospace groups
• Production of Flight Controls and electrical systems for A320 A350 and B787.
• Avionics Equipment produced in Singapore is equipped across China Southern Airlines fleets and Philippine Airlines and Silk Air as well.
• 80% of market share in IFEC in China + a number of clients across the Asia Pax
• Singapore hosts 1 of 3 global repair hubs which handles MRO operations for one third of Thales’s global MRO operations.
• Thales is also responsible for the entire securitization of Singapore’s air traffic, with the LORADS III ATM system (the most advanced system in the world), all tower operations at Changi Airport and the operations and security systems at Changi airport.”

Further, he notes an interesting, Thales supported, design/innovation concept called the Innovation Hub. Here is what he had to say about it:

• Singapore Innovation Hub, a multidisciplinary establishment inspired by Asian concepts, Asian innovation and Asian thinking.
• The Hub will engage customers and utilize new concepts and practices such as Design Thinking to identify needs and jointly develop solutions.
• The innovation team benefits from government support and partnerships with Singapore’s institutions as well as a global network of Thales innovation teams. Strong focus on research and technology with launch of regional innovation centre to meet local requirements through Design thinking.
• The Hub engages customers and partners in user-centred innovation, enabling cross-functional collaborations in co-designing, prototyping and testing new concepts across areas ranging from aerospace, air traffic management, smart cities to defense and maritime security.
• The concept behind this Hub is to seek inspiration from Asian concepts, Asian innovation and Asian thinking, to arrive at a deeper understanding of the operational needs of clients in the region, and design new products and services that address these specific requirements.
• The innovation team has been trained by the Design Thinking and Innovation Academy from the DesignSingapore Council in order to apply the concept of Design Thinking innovation a new, goal-oriented, problem solving approach developed to look at all potential alternatives of a particular design problem.”

Jean-Noel Stock country director for Singapore rounded the whole issue off by highlighting how important some of the aspect of their presence in Singapore was to the signing of Singapore Airlines when he explained that the Thales Singapore Innovation Hub, the first such centre in the Eastern Hemisphere, centered around the concept of design thinking, was inaugurated in 2014 and one year later Singapore told Thales they had been chosen. After looking into some of the product features we asked a few questions about the deal:

1. IFExpress: How many and what type of aircraft are involved in the Singapore deal?

Answer: “A350XWB configured for medium haul operations. At this time we cannot disclose the number but delivery is set to begin in 2018.” (Editor’s Note: Singapore has 67 A350XWB on order.)

2. IFExpress: What all is included in the “line operation services” noted in the report and will these be at Singapore destination airports?

Answer: We will have service locations in Singapore and other airports around the globe for line services including maintenance, logistics, replacements and spares. A number of service locations around the globe allow us to be responsive to customer needs anywhere.

3. IFExpress: Can you expand on the “wide selection of connected services”?

Answer: “Though we cannot directly comment at this time on what is being offered to this customer we can say that our connectivity applications can run the gamut to include shopping, gaming, meals and beverage service, air to ground connectivity for operations, crew connectivity and more.”

4. IFExpress: One product feature caught our eye – please tell our readers about the “application portal”?

Answer: “The application portal is a service we developed in order to allow any android application developer to interface directly with us and the airline. This allows developers to tailor their apps to the airline’s needs. It’s a great way to ensure that passengers can access the latest and best applications available on the Android market and just another example of how we are innovating to ensure that the passenger experience is as close in the air as on the ground.”

5. IFExpress: Can you supply more information on the “Avii”?

Answer: “Avii is a second-screen application platform that enables premium-class passengers to select, control and enhance their multi-media experience. Avii provides contextual remote control capabilities for the monitor and can be used as an independent handheld screen for many applications, enabling multi-tasking. The Avii platform consists of a 5” LCD with 1080p resolution, multi-touch capacitive touch screen, and an Android operating system. With a balanced & ergonomic design and context based applications, Avii provides an intuitive user interaction.”

Congratulations!

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Astronics:

We thought you might like to check out Astronics Corporation 2015 Fourth Quarter results and Full Year Financial Results is a short, concise form – so here it is:
• Aerospace sales up 6% in quarter driven by Electrical Power & Motion products
• The company realized record annual sales of $692 million and record net income of $67 million in 2015
• Achieved record annual Aerospace sales of $550 million, up 11.1% over 2014
• 2016 sales guidance revised to $665 million to $725 million
That pretty much says it all – nice going everybody!

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News:
1. And speaking of Asian pacific airplane sales, Boeing is projecting demand in Asia Pacific for 14,550 aircraft worth $550b over next 20 years which means one heck-ova-lot of IFE

2. The folks at Gogo announced today that American Airlines has dismissed the declaratory judgment action it filed against Gogo on February 12, 2016. The flap was brought about by American who announced that they wanted to use ViaSat. (Editor’s note: We are thinking 2Ku might be in AA’s future.)

3. Icelandair and Global Eagle Entertainment, (Nasdaq:ENT) (“GEE”) announced the introduction of gate-to-gate Wi-Fi connectivity on the airline’s full fleet of aircraft. Passengers flying on Icelandair operated flights between North America and Europe can now connect to the internet from jetway to jetway. This airline milestone in Wi-Fi connectivity designates Icelandair as the first airline in both the European and North Atlantic markets to provide gate-to-gate connectivity.

United Arab Emirates | May 4, 2014 — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the first destinations for its first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first A380 will operate commercially to London Heathrow from December 2014. A second A380 will operate on the same route from Q1 2015. By the end of 2015, Etihad Airways will have five of the type in operation, with plans to also introduce A380 operations to both Sydney and New York JFK.

The first Etihad Airways B787-9 will enter commercial service in December 2014, with a second aircraft entering service in January 2015. As with the A380, by the end of 2015, Etihad Airways will have five of the type in operation. The first B787s will initially be deployed on Washington DC, Düsseldorf and Mumbai, with further route announcements to follow.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The A380 will be used to provide additional seats on existing routes where there is a need for increased capacity, and in particular, high demand for first and business class travel.”

Etihad Airways has a total of 10 A380s on firm order. Four A380s will arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and two in 2017.

Each aircraft is designed to carry 498 passengers in four living spaces on the aircraft. This includes two VIP customers in The Residence by Etihad™, nine customers in the innovative First Class Apartments, 70 customers in the new Business Class Studios, and 417 customers in Economy Class.

Mr. Baumgartner added:  “Today is an historic day in the Etihad Airways story. We are the fastest growing airline in commercial aviation, and by unveiling our plans for this magnificent aircraft and setting new benchmarks in onboard product, service, hospitality and style, we have redefined what flying is all about.”

Etihad Airways also has major plans for the B787 which enters the fleet in Q4 2014.

The mostly composite aircraft will be deployed from December between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf, and services to Washington DC and Mumbai will commence in January 2015.  Services to other cities will be confirmed in 2015 as more B787s enter the airline’s aircraft fleet.

The airline has a total of 71 B787s scheduled for delivery between the end of 2014 and 2023, including 41 B787-9s and 30 B787-10s, making it the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.

Two B787s are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2014 with three due to arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and nine in 2017.  All five initial B787 deliveries will have three living spaces aboard the aircraft, configured to carry 235 customers.

There are eight First Suites in First Class, 28 Business Studios in Business Class and 199 Economy Smart Seats in Economy Class.

Mr. Baumgartner said:  “The B787 is a fantastic addition to our fleet and, similar to the A380, it sets new standards in terms of passenger comfort, product and, crucially, economics.

“Over the coming years this next-generation aircraft will be used by Etihad Airways to launch flights to new destinations, add capacity in existing markets and progressively replace existing, less-efficient aircraft.”

Some of the initial Etihad Airways A380 and B787 flights may be booked from today, online at etihad.com, through the Etihad Airways contact centre, or via travel agents.

• A380 will debut The Residence by Etihad™ – the only three-room cabin in the sky

• New contemporary living spaces on A380 and B787 to transform air travel

• First Apartment, First Suites, Business Studio, and Economy Smart Seat to debut

United Arab Emirates | May 4, 2014 — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled the new product and service offering on its Airbus A380 and Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft, including The Residence by Etihad™, the world’s most luxurious living space in the air, available only on the airline’s A380 aircraft.

The Residence will be the breath-taking and completely new forward upper-deck cabin on the A380. Accommodating single or double occupancy, it features a living room, separate double bedroom and ensuite shower room. Customers in The Residence will also have a personal butler.

With the launch of these new fleets, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will also redefine and rename its cabin classes.

The A380 will feature revolutionary First Apartments, which are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, as well as a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe.

Etihad Airways has allocated the upper deck of the A380 to its premium cabins.

On the B787, Etihad Airways has designed an enhanced First Suite, adding many new features including a chilled mini-bar.

The Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat will feature on both the A380 and the B787.

Etihad Airways is introducing the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system across both fleets, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high definition screens across all cabins.

The system has video touchscreen handsets, offering an additional screen for customers to maximise their entertainment, so they can play games or view a moving flight route map while watching a movie.

Noise cancelling headsets are provided across all cabins, with built-in magnetic audio jacks to ensure the best sound quality.

The A380 aircraft will have full mobile and Wi-Fi service while the B787 will be equipped with Wi-Fi.

The new cabins and service offering follow the airline’s pledge to transform air travel and make every customer journey a remarkable one.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “These new living spaces will raise inflight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers’ expectations of inflight comfort and luxury forever.

“Etihad Airways’ A380 and B787 will deliver the most advanced airline cabins in the industry, while meeting all weight, range and cost targets at our desired seat count. This will allow us to offer products unparalleled in quality and style, yet at competitive prices across all three cabins.”

Believing that no single design agency could deliver its vision for the new cabins, Etihad Airways established in 2008 the Etihad Design Consortium (EDC) which brought together three leading British design companies, Acumen, Factorydesign and Honour Branding to develop innovative cabin and seat designs for the new fleets.

The EDC collaborated with Promise Communispace, a leading agency, to launch comprehensive consumer research and workshops in London, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, and New York, with the goal of understanding what makes a ‘perfect flight’ and asking consumers to help design the perfect airline.

Eighty per cent of the new product offering is a direct result of the feedback and information garnered from these workshops.

Etihad Airways’ design vision was to bring the individuality and exclusivity of a luxury boutique hotel experience to the sky in a way that embraced Arabian modernism, an aesthetic that combines the traditions of the Middle East with contemporary design.

The Residence by Etihad

The Residence, which is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for single or double occupancy, offers levels of luxury and total privacy normally found only on private jets.

Each Etihad Airways A380 will offer a boutique version of The Residence with different colour palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets.

Customers in The Residence will have the services of a personal butler throughout their flight. These fully trained service professionals will receive specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London.

They will also have a dedicated VIP travel concierge team who will ensure every detail of their travel experience, including ground transport, cuisine, and amenities, are tailored to their requirements.

First Apartments

Etihad Airways will redefine first class and set a remarkable new industry standard with the launch of the First Apartment on the A380.

Nine First Apartments will be installed on the upper deck in a 1-1 configuration to create the only single aisle first class cabin in the industry.

Each First Apartment, which has a 64 inch high sliding door, includes a reclining armchair and a full-length ottoman, both upholstered by the prestigious Italian suppliers of Ferrari’s interiors, Poltrona Frau. The ottoman transforms into a separate 80 inch long fully flatbed.

The First Apartment, which also includes features such as a chilled mini-bar, a personal vanity unit and a swivelling TV monitor for viewing from either the seat or the bed, has a 74 per cent larger footprint than the airline’s current award-winning first class suites.

A fully equipped shower room is available on the A380 for exclusive use by first class customers.

First Suites

On the B787, Etihad Airways has designed an enhanced First Suite with many new features. The eight First Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration along a curved aisle, another first in commercial aviation.

Each completely private First Suite has a large seat and ottoman, both upholstered by Poltrona Frau, which converts into an 80.5 inch long full-flat bed.

On the centre seats, the armrests retract and the suites can be joined to create a ‘double’ bed. Other features include a chilled mini-bar and a 24 inch TV monitor.

Business Studios

On both the A380 and the B787, Etihad Airways will launch its new Business Studios which provide 20 per cent more personal space than the airline’s current business class seat.

Configured 1-2-1 in a forward and aft ‘dovetail’, the Business Studios all have aisle access and the seat converts into a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.

With its privacy, ample storage and surface space, the Business Studio has been designed with the diverse needs of the premium business or leisure traveller firmly in mind.

The Lobby

On the Airbus A380, First and Business Class guests will be able to relax in The Lobby which is a serviced lounge and bar area located between the first and business cabins.

Providing a semi-circular leather sofa, a marquetry table and a large TV screen, The Lobby is designed for relaxing and socialising.

The TV has a USB connection so it can be used for sharing content or it can also be set to the airline’s live news and sport TV channels..

Economy Smart Seat

New Economy Smart Seat will offer an ergonomic fixed-wing headrest, to give customers a place to rest their head for added comfort and relaxation.

The seat also has a lumbar support feature, allowing customers to adjust their seat comfort, and an 11 inch personal monitor screen, with all the IFE peripherals conveniently set into the seatback in front.

The latest Panasonic eX3 personal entertainment system, of which Etihad Airways is a launch customer, is installed across all cabins

Cabin Entrances

A key design objective for Etihad Airways was to transform the boarding experience making it more akin to stepping into the lobby of a boutique hotel.

In all entry-ways in both aircraft and in all cabins, the galley equipment is concealed behind custom Arabic fretwork screens and blinds, while the trolleys are covered by elegant wood-finish doors, setting a stylish and welcoming environment for all customers.

Importantly for the airline’s Muslim customers, Etihad Airways has developed prayer areas which can be curtained off for privacy and are equipped with a real-time electronic Qibla-finder showing the exact direction of Mecca based on the aircraft’s geographical position.

In the premium class boarding areas, Etihad Airways will collaborate with cultural institutions in the UAE to exhibit artwork and artefacts in display cabinets installed throughout. Items from the Etihad Airways duty free catalogue will also be displayed.

With the launch of these new aircraft, Etihad Airways will update its dining equipment, amenities and soft furnishings across its entire fleet.

To view images and video of the new cabins, please click on the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEhl8GyXfBY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqZZHT5dvMU

Aircraft Interiors, Hamburg | April 8, 2014– After equipping its A330 and B777 fleets with OnAir’s services, Saudia’s B787 aircraft will become the latest fleet to be connected. All of Saudia’s long-haul fleets are now connected with OnAir.

Saudia is the second B787 operator to offer OnAir connectivity, reaffirming OnAir’s position as the leading inflight connectivity provider.

The first of Saudia’s eight B787s is due for delivery in December 2015. Saudia’s decision to include OnAir connectivity on its Dreamliners confirms the success of OnAir’s GSM and Wi-Fi services on its other fleets. The airline has seen a 400 percent increase in mobile data usage and 254 percent increase in internet usage over the last 12 months. The aircraft will be equipped with a Thales TopConnect solution enabling access to OnAir’s Wi-Fi Internet and mobile phone services over Inmarsat SwiftBroadband (SBB).

The provision of OnAir connectivity services on this B787 fleet marks a significant milestone in Saudia’s efforts to implement a seamless, consistent brand offering across all its fleets. Saudia’s commitment to OnAir as its preferred service provider is integral to the effective execution of this strategy. The versatility of OnAir’s services make them the right ones to be launched across a variety of aircraft types.

“Saudia is very happy to be expanding our cabin connectivity with OnAir services,” said Mr. Abdul Mohsen Jonaid, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudia. “We have seen how well our inflight connectivity has been received by passengers and OnAir is the natural choice for us when we decided to include connectivity on our B787s. Passengers want and expect to be connected and we want to provide the best passenger experience.”

OnAir connectivity has been flying with Saudia for four years. During this time, OnAir has partnered with the airline through various fleet expansions, as well as providing connectivity for new routes that the airline has introduced. OnAir has provided the level of coverage necessary to maintain a high consistency of service across all the routes that Saudia flies.

“It is great to see new agreements coming as the result of existing relationships with airlines,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Saudia’s entire long range fleet is now connected with OnAir. We have gained Saudia’s trust by consistently delivering on all our commitments. This has cemented our long term partnership and put it firmly on track for future growth.”

Irivine, CA and Neuilly-Sur-Seine, France | July 25, 2013– Thales, leader in in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems is providing the in-flight entertainment systems on British Airways’ eagerly awaited Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.

The airline took delivery into the UK of its first two 787s last month, followed by its first A380 on 4 July. In 2008 British Airways agreed on a deal to purchase the Thales TopSeries In-Flight Entertainment System for its new delivery and next generation aircraft.

These new aircraft feature the TopSeries System, an award winning in-flight entertainment product that offers passengers the ultimate in-flight experience. From the comfort of their own seat passengers will be able to enjoy the latest films, catch up with the latest TV programmes, keep up-to date with breaking news, play games, listen to music, radio, podcasts and much more. Passengers can also keep up-to-date with their journey using Thales’ advanced 3D moving map application that includes a full featured globe with satellite imagery and full-motion 3D view of the aircraft. Arrival and flight connections information is also available.

The aircraft will be maintained from the Thales London Heathrow maintenance hub, which today already provides a service to 31 aircraft in the British Airways fleet.

“Thales is looking forward to more passengers being able to experience in-flight entertainment products and services fitting of the new state-of-the art aircraft. We are excited to be a part of this important milestone for British Airways and welcome the additional aircraft to our maintenance and service hub, over the next four years” said Andrew Musgrave, Thales Vice President, In-Flight Entertainment UK and Ireland.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane #1 successfully lifted off from Paine Field in Everett, WA at 10:27 AM. The airplane will conduct an initial flight test and then land at Boeing Field in three to five hours.

The Boeing Company has a web site with information and video at http://www.newairplane.com/

Here are links to additional stories from local media sources covering the first flight:

• Seattle Times: Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off on first flight
• Seattle P-I: 787 takes maiden flight
• KIRO TV: 787 Takes To Air In First Flight
• KOMO TV: 787 takes to the skies

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed installing reinforcements within the side-of-body section of two more 787 Dreamliners.

Over the weekend, employees at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Wash., finished reinforcing the full-scale static test airframe and the second Dreamliner designated for flight test. Installations were completed Nov. 11 on the first flight-test airplane.

The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage.

“Our focus now is on completing the static test later this month, which will validate the modification,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “Concurrently we are restoring the airplanes and completing the functional tests required to fly by the end of the year.”

The static test airframe is being refitted with strain gauges and instrumentation required for testing. Access doors, systems, seals and fasteners removed from airplane No. 2 to provide access are being restored in preparation for continued testing on the airplane. The first 787 also is being restored.

Fancher said the program is on track to fly the 787 by the end of the year.

“We are building momentum with each milestone we achieve,” Fancher said. “This team is focused on its goals and bringing us ever closer to first flight.”

SEATTLE, Oct. 28 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that it has chosen its North Charleston, S.C., facility as the location for a second final assembly site for the 787 Dreamliner program. Boeing evaluated criteria that were designed to find the final assembly location within the company that would best support the 787 business plan as the program increases production rates. In addition to serving as a location for final assembly of 787 Dreamliners, the facility also will have the capability to support the testing and delivery of the airplanes.

“Establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston will expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This decision allows us to continue building on the synergies we have established in South Carolina with Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica,” he said, adding that this move will strengthen the company’s competitiveness and sustainability and help it grow for the long term.

Boeing Charleston performs fabrication, assembly and systems installation for the 787 aft fuselage sections. Across the street, Global Aeronautica, which is 50 percent owned by Boeing, is responsible for joining and integrating 787 fuselage sections from other structural partners.

Until the second 787 assembly line is brought on line in North Charleston, Boeing will establish transitional surge capability at its Everett, Wash., location to ensure the successful introduction of the 787-9, the first derivative model of the 787. When the second line in Charleston is up and operating, the surge capability in Everett will be phased out.

“We’re taking prudent steps to protect the interests of our customers as we introduce the 787-9 and ramp up overall production to 10 twin-aisle 787 jets per month,” said Albaugh.

“While we welcome the development of this expanded capability at Boeing Charleston, the Puget Sound region is the headquarters of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Everett will continue to design and produce airplanes, including the 787, and there is tremendous opportunity for our current and future products here,” Albaugh emphasized. “We remain committed to Puget Sound.”

Approximately 55 airlines have ordered around 840 787 airplanes since the program was launched in 2003. The 787 family of airplanes will carry 200 to 250 passengers on flights up to 8,200 nautical miles (15,200 km). The 787 will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes while offering passengers greater comfort and the convenience of direct, nonstop flights between more cities around the world.
“The 787 will provide airlines with unprecedented operating economics and efficiencies. It also will take passengers where they want to go, when they want to go, and do it more comfortably and affordably than ever before,” Albaugh said. “This airplane will allow us to continue to set the standard for commercial aviation in the second century of flight.”

CHICAGO, Aug. 27 – The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today announced that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner is expected by the end of 2009 and first delivery is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The new schedule reflects the previously announced need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft, along with the addition of several weeks of schedule margin to reduce flight test and certification risk. The company projects achieving a production rate of 10 airplanes per month in late 2013.

“This new schedule provides us the time needed to complete the remaining work necessary to put the 787’s game-changing capability in the hands of our customers,” said Boeing Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney. “The design details and implementation plan are nearly complete, and the team is preparing airplanes for modification and testing.”
Based on the revised schedule and other assumption updates, the company has determined that the 787 program is not in a forward-loss position.

However, separate from the updated program profitability assessment, the company has concluded that the initial flight-test airplanes have no commercial market value beyond the development effort due to the inordinate amount of rework and unique and extensive modifications made to those aircraft. Therefore, costs previously recorded for the first three flight-test airplanes will be reclassified from program inventory to research and development expense, resulting in an estimated non-cash charge of $2.5 billion pre-tax, or $2.21 per share, against third-quarter results. This charge will have no impact on the company’s cash outlook going forward.

The 787 team working the side-of-body reinforcement has completed initial testing and is finalizing design details of new fittings that are expected to ensure full structural integrity of the joint. The static test procedure that uncovered the issue will be repeated and the results fully analyzed before first flight is conducted. Fatigue testing also will be performed on stringer components to validate the long-term durability of the modification.

The first 787 test airplane and static test unit have been prepared for the new fittings. Installation is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

Boeing will discuss this announcement during a webcast starting at 10:00 a.m. EDT today. That webcast is accessible through www.boeing.com. The company will update its 2009 financial guidance in October when it reports third-quarter results.

SEATTLE, July 7  — Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today that it has agreed to acquire the business and operations conducted by Vought Aircraft Industries at its South Carolina facility, where Vought builds a key structure for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner airplane.

The Vought facility, located in North Charleston, performs fabrication and assembly of structures and systems installation of 787 aft fuselage sections, which are made primarily of composite materials. After the transaction, Vought will continue its work on many Boeing programs, including other components of the 787, as well as structures and components on the 737, 747, 767, 777, C-17 and V-22 through operations located elsewhere.

“Integrating this facility and its talented employees into Boeing will strengthen the 787 program by enabling us to accelerate productivity and efficiency improvements as we move toward production ramp-up,” said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “In addition, it will bolster our capability to develop and produce large composite structures that will contribute to the advancement of this critical technology.”

“We take great pride knowing that we have been able to satisfy the technological and physical demands of the 787 program alongside much larger companies,” said Elmer Doty, president and CEO of Vought Aircraft Industries. “However, the financial demands of this program are clearly growing beyond what a company our size can support. We are pleased that we will continue our 787 involvement at a component manufacturing level, as well as provide ongoing technical capabilities that have helped make Charleston a world-class composite facility.”

Through the agreement, Boeing will acquire the North Charleston facility, its assets and inventory and will assume operation of the site, and the parties will resolve all matters related to Vought’s prior work on the 787 program. The cash consideration to be paid to Vought at closing is approximately $580 million. In addition, Boeing will release Vought from its obligations to repay amounts previously advanced by Boeing. Separately, Boeing entered into new agreements with Vought for work packages on the 737, 777 and 787.

This transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter following satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including consent from Vought’s lenders.

Once acquired, the North Charleston facility will be managed by the 787 program. “We look forward to welcoming the South Carolina team to Boeing and continuing our relationship with Vought to bring the most value to the 787 and our other programs,” said Carson.

EVERETT, Wash., June 23 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will be postponed due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.

The need was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane. Preliminary analysis indicated that flight test could proceed this month as planned. However, after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, the decision was made late last week that first flight should instead be postponed until productive flight testing could occur.

First flight and first delivery will be rescheduled following the final determination of the required modification and testing plan. It will be several weeks before the new schedule is available. The 787 team will continue with other aspects of testing on Airplane #1, including final gauntlet testing and low-speed taxiing. Work will also continue on the other five flight test aircraft and the subsequent aircraft in the production system.

Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said a team of experts has already identified several potential solutions.

“Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled, but we ultimately concluded that the right thing was to develop, design, test and incorporate a permanent modification to the localized area requiring reinforcement. 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,” Carson said.

Boeing’s financial guidance will be updated to reflect any impact of these changes when the company issues its second quarter 2009 earnings report in July.

EVERETT, Wash., June 15 – The second Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner has moved to the flight line to begin fuel testing. This is the second of six 787s being used in the all-new airplane’s flight-test program.

“Momentum continues to build with each milestone achieved,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program.

Each of the six flight-test airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests during the flight-test program. This airplane, designated ZA002, will focus on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, this airplane has successfully completed a rigorous series of tests while still in the factory. Fuel testing began immediately upon the airplane entering the fuel dock.

ZA002 features the livery of the Dreamliner’s launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan.
“ANA will be the first to fly the 787 Dreamliner in commercial service,” Fancher noted. “We are honored to fly in ANA livery throughout the flight-test program as a tribute to our partnership in bringing this all-new airplane to market.”

The 787 Dreamliner has 865 orders from 56 airlines.

PARIS (June 15, 2009) – Rockwell Collins’ next generation avionics systems are installed and in final preparations for the first flight of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner airplane. The company provides and serves as systems integrator for the airplane’s flight deck display system and crew alerting system, pilot controls, communication and surveillance systems, the aircraft’s common data network, and the core network cabinet.

“We’re tremendously proud of our success in meeting and exceeding our program milestones for the 787 Dreamliner and eagerly anticipate the airplane’s first flight,” said Kelly Ortberg, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Commercial Systems at Rockwell Collins. “Rockwell Collins has been an active teammate with Boeing throughout the design and development of this new airplane. We’re excited about the relationship we’ve built with Boeing during this process, and look forward to realizing the advancements in safety, efficiency and sustainability that will be made with our next generation avionics.”

During the development and design process, Rockwell Collins has served on Boeing’s 787 Partner Council and has employees working onsite at Boeing participating in day-to-day program design, integration and production activities.

Rockwell Collins content on Boeing’s 787 airplane includes an integrated display system featuring five 15.1-inch diagonal LCD displays – four across the flight deck and one in the control stand for emulation of the Control Display Units (CDU) – as well as dual LCD head-up displays (HUD). The system utilizes cursor control devices and a multi-function key pad for data entry and retrieval. Rockwell Collins employed advanced model based development processes and tools to make significant reductions in development cost, cycle time and life cycle costs typically associated with display systems.

The 787 flight deck also features Rockwell Collins’ latest generation of pilot controls – further advancing the company’s leadership in design, integration and manufacturing of this technology. Rockwell Collins has developed the control stand including auto throttles, and pitch, roll, yaw and primary flight controls, as well as their interfaces to the aircraft’s fly-by-wire systems. The modular design of the pilot controls will simplify installation and maintenance. This new system meets Boeing’s objective of providing operators with a look and feel similar to the Boeing 777, while achieving significant weight savings.

Rockwell Collins provides a newly developed Integrated Surveillance System (ISS) for the 787. This highly integrated system includes functions such as hazard detection, traffic alert and collision avoidance, Mode S surveillance, and terrain awareness and warning capabilities.

The 787’s communication system includes Rockwell Collins’ VHF-2100, SAT-2100 and HFS 900D. The lighter weight, highly reliable VHF-2100 is VDL Mode 2 capable with future growth to VDL Mode 3 and 4. The new, smaller and more reliable SAT-2100 supports the International Civil Aviation Organization’s safety services, as well as three channels of voice communications and offers growth to future Inmarsat Swift high-speed data capabilities. As part of the communications package, Rockwell Collins is also providing a state of the art digital flight deck audio system, and the cockpit voice and flight data recording system.

The Core Network, offered as basic on the 787, leverages Rockwell Collins’ investment in Information Management products. This next generation of the Core Network plays a key role in Boeing’s objective to ‘e-enable’ the entire aircraft. Utilizing commercial open standards, the Core Network hosts a wide range of third-party applications, and manages onboard information flow, to improve airline operational efficiency.

The 787’s Common Data Network (CDN) advances Rockwell Collins’ leadership as a supplier of advanced networking technologies. As a key component of GE Aviation Systems’ Common Core System, the CDN is a high integrity, bi-directional fiber optic and copper network that uses ARINC 664 protocols and standards to manage the information flow between the aircraft’s onboard systems. Based on commercial Ethernet technology, adapted to the avionics environment, the integrity and deterministic characteristics of Rockwell Collins’ CDN allows systems integrators to utilize this network for systems requiring a high level of data criticality. The CDN offers significant improvements over current generation data buses including expanded connectivity, higher data rates and significant reductions in aircraft weight when compared with point to point topologies.

In addition to leadership and engineering support, Rockwell Collins has used its service center in the region – the Kent Service Center – to actively support the program. Much of the work for 787 has been done at the company’s facilities in Iowa; Melbourne, Fla.; Irvine, Calif.; and Portland, Ore.

About Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management and simulation and training is delivered by nearly 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.

EVERETT, Wash., June 8 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) has completed the intermediate gauntlet phase of testing on the first 787 Dreamliner.

During the testing, pilots and engineers simulated multiple scenarios using all airplane systems as if the aircraft were in flight, including power, avionics and flight controls. Test scenarios ranged from standard flights to single and multiple systems failures during flights.

Intermediate gauntlet testing included about one week’s worth of operations on the airplane and hundreds of discrete test conditions.

“The team has done an incredible job supporting an exhaustive test regimen,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “I couldn’t be more proud.
“We will continue to take a hard look at the results, make adjustments and finish up our testing so we can get to first flight.”

Beginning June 9, at noon PDT (7 p.m. GMT), video highlights including the road to gauntlet, gauntlet testing highlights and a tribute to the men and women conducting the gauntlet testing can be found at www.boeing.com and www.newairplane.com.

EVERETT, Wash., May 03, 2009 — The Boeing [NYSE: BA] 787 Dreamliner that will fly later this quarter has moved to the flight line. Fuel testing – the first in the next phase of extensive checks the airplane must undergo – will begin in the next few days.

“We are making great progress, and moving ever-closer to first flight,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program.

In recent weeks, the 787 (designated ZA001) completed a rigorous series of tests including build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane. With Chief Pilot Mike Carriker at the controls, the simulation tested all flight controls, hardware and software. The simulation also included manual and automatic landings and an extensive suite of subsequent ground tests.

“These results give us confidence in our ability to move into further gauntlet testing using either ground power or the airplane’s engines or auxiliary power unit. This is a significant milestone on the path to first flight,” Fancher said.

All structural tests required on the static airframe prior to first flight also are complete. The final test occurred April 21 when the wing and trailing edges were subjected to their limit load – the highest loads expected to be seen in service. The load is about the same as the airplane experiencing 2.5 times the force of gravity.

“We continue to analyze the data, but the initial results are positive,” Fancher said. On April 13, the leading edge of the wing was subjected to its limit load while the rest of the airplane was subjected to loads expected at cruise. And in September 2008, the “high blow” high-pressure test was completed on the static airframe. During that test, the airframe reached an internal pressure of 150 percent of the maximum levels expected to be seen in service – 14.9 lbs. per square inch (1.05 kilograms per centimeter) gauge (psig).

Ground vibration testing, which measures the airplane’s response to flutter, also concluded on the second flight-test airplane, designated ZA002, at the end of this week. All the necessary structural tests required prior to first flight now are complete.

Now on the flight line, ZA001 will undergo additional airplane power and systems tests as well as engine runs. After completing final systems checks and high-speed taxi tests, the airplane will be ready for first flight, which is on schedule for later this quarter.

The 787 Dreamliner has orders for 886 airplanes from 57 customers.

Neuilly sur Seine, 7 April 2009 – Thales, a leader in In-Flight Entertainment systems, is pleased to announce that Korean Air chose Thales’s TopSeries In-Flight Entertainment system for six of its recently purchased Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This order follows the airline‘s original commitment for the TopSeries system on 10 B787, 35 B777 and 19 A330 aircraft. Consistent across the fleet, passengers will enjoy large screen displays, and in-seat features including a slim line passenger control unit, USB port for personal electronic connectivity and in-seat power for laptops. System functions are comprehensive and include a small map display on the passenger control device, 3-D games, live landscape cameras and daily news.

“Thales’s IFE system provides the commonality we require for our aircraft. We are impressed with both the system capability and Thales’s commitment to the program,” said Mr. S K Lee, Managing Vice President of Procurement for Korean Air. The TopSeries system for all of the airline’s aircraft is based on Thales’s next generation 3-D technology, which provides more powerful performance and efficiency. First aircraft deliveries will take place in May 2009. “Korean Air is a prominent customer for Thales in the Asia Pacific region. Our relationship is strong and we look forward to working with their organisation for years to come,” said Alan Pellegrini, Vice President and General Manager of Thales’s In-Flight Entertainment systems business.

About Thales’s IFE systems

Thales entered the In-Flight Entertainment business in the late 90s and today employs 700+ dedicated professionals with decades of IFE experience. Its IFE headquarter office is located in California with regional offices in France, China and Singapore. Thales is the fastest growing IFE supplier with over 1,000 aircraft commitments in just 5 years. Thales offers a comprehensive In-Flight Entertainment solution covering four main areas:

• TopSeries In-Flight Entertainment systems
• TopConnect Suite of Connectivity Solutions
• TopEffects Digital Media and Services
• TopServices Global Service and Support

For more information about Thales’s In-Flight Entertainment systems visit www.thales-ifs.com.

About Thales

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing Aerospace and Space, Defence and Security markets worldwide. The Group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Thales’s leading-edge technology is supported by 22,500 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. The Group builds its growth on its unique multidomestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2008 revenues of €12.7 billion.

EVERETT, Wash., March 19, 2009 — The sixth and final Boeing [NYSE: BA] 787 Dreamliner designated for flight test is now undergoing final assembly in Everett, Wash. The airplane, designated ZA006, will be powered with General Electric GEnx engines.

Progress continues on the fleet. The first flight test airplane, ZA001, is getting its paint touched up this week before finishing factory testing. Power was brought onto the second airplane, ZA002, in late February and build verification tests are progressing well. Production work continues on ZA003, ZA004 and ZA005. In all, assemblies for 31 Dreamliners are currently in production throughout the supply chain.

The 787 Dreamliner has orders for 878 airplanes from 57 customers.

 

Readers: This issue is far from IFE and we apologize for that fact. We did think you might find this story interesting, not because of the intrigue involved, but rather its’ “suspicions confirmed” flavor. Admittedly, we have never worked on a story like this before, however, many of us wonder what is happening inside the Seattle planemaker, Boeing. Late delivery schedules have never been tolerated in the past and relatively recent moves; buyouts and management shuffles may have taken their toll. Our story starts with one dedicated Boeing employee who worked tirelessly for the company, before and after his retirement. We know, we were there… we got the T-shirt! His website says it all but the background is so amazing we had to dig deeper. 

Bob Bogash is a passionate man, but while this story is about Boeing, you might want to take a look at the man himself because he is probably respected and vilified by a lot of Boeing employees. First, check out Bob and his background here: http://www.rbogash.com. Now, you need to look at the website he put together with his (and thousands of others) view of the state of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company: http://www.rbogash.com/boeing_delay.html. This is a stinging indictment of the management and practices of present-day Boeing so we dug a bit deeper after we got the anonymous website tip and followed-up with a bit of research. No doubt the company water cooler philosophers have their views, however, we sought other respected, retired executives and managers and got the following amazing responses:  

“The bottom line is that The Boeing Company, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes in particular, have always been run by people who “grew up” in the company and had actually executed programs: T. Wilson, Jack Steiner, Frank Shrontz, Ron Woodard, Dean Thornton, Alan Mulally, and Phil Condit, just to name a few. To effectively manage Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the leader must have a solid experience base there so he or she can independently “check the pulse.”  Wilson simply called his network of friends to find the truth about programs or walked out on the factory floor. Condit had his version of the same, as did Mulally.”   

“The current BCA CEO and the current Boeing Company CEO do not have any BCA program experience and therefore neither of them has a basis for knowing when they are being misled, told half-truths, or otherwise being given ‘get well proposals’ that don’t make sense. They have no perspicacity when it comes to managing the commercial airplane business.  And – during 2008 they forced out the only senior people who did. Harvard Business School teaches a good manager can manage anything.  Stanford Business School teaches a good manager can manage that which he knows about.  The Boeing Company clearly requires the latter, but the Board of Directors has put the former in charge of The Company.  Boeing Commercial Airplanes is no better off.  The current CEO came from the defense side and has no experience running successful (airplane) programs.  Connexion-By-Boeing should have been a clue. Both of these men, in the right position, are probably fantastic managers. They currently appear to be out of their realm.”  

“There is a larger problem that started with the acquisition of then McDonnell Douglas  – a company whose culture focused on personal achievement rather than on customer satisfaction and shareholder value.  The integration of these two cultures has been, and continues to be, traumatic – witness Mr. Sears going to jail, Mr. Stonecipher’s ethics lapse, Mr. Condit’s early exit, and the continuing exodus of seasoned Commercial Airplane & Boeing Aerospace executives. On the developmental program side, Boeing Commercial Airplane’s history was one focused on getting it right the first time, absolutely knowing and meeting customer expectations, and never being late – no matter what the cost. This industry does not forgive and does not forget.  Maintaining design responsibility at Boeing, having a staff and project check-and-balance, focusing relentlessly on configuration control, and backstopping troubled suppliers where hallmarks of every developmental program.  BCA lost that on the 787 program… enough said.” 

Often, criticisms from outside a technically focused company don’t really hit the mark because of the technical nature of the product and it’s changing nature…not to mention the cultural changes affecting people and organizations over time. You will have to be the judge, but we discovered a quiet, but real, retiree revolution with campaigners sending over 2000 emails each day to Bogash. Detractors of his website message don’t seem to exist because, according to Mr. Bogash he is apparently on-message with most readers. Here is what another respected retiree told IFExpress, “This (website) expresses what knowledgeable retirees feel. We get together and discuss these issues. We have all read Bob’s website and can only say “AMEN.” We think the problem is also expressed by the havoc in the auto and financial industry as well. They Just Don’t Get It!!!! They are all novices at the problems of designing/building/certifying a commercial airliner. The real sad part of it is we think it is too late to ever get back to where we all showed what’s needed to be done, and by whom, if there is a chance to succeed.” 

While these few words do not do justice to all the people we talked to, the level of disgust at the present day state of affairs at Boeing is deafening. We found no one disagreeing with Mr. Bogash.  When we talked with Bob we can report that he truly lives and breathes for change within Boeing. He and his “guerilla army” have sought any number of ways to get his/their message to Boeing employees, managers, executives and brass at the highest level. Boeing’s response to the efforts; “Tepid… at best.” Bob went on, “Our goal is to communicate that the company is in a state of denial and without change, the outcome for Boeing looks grim.” 

Readers might want to pickup the following book for even more enlightening reading matter. We suggest a historical knowledge of Boeing stock prices would be of use in doing so! http://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Order-Change-Turnaround/dp/1591842395/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1236627694&sr=8-2