Boeing exec: 787 delivery may slip to early 2011 due to test issues, inspections

Boeing exec: 787 delivery may slip to early 2011

SEATTLE — The director of Boeing’s 787 jetliner program says the first delivery of the plane may slip to early 2011 because more inspections are needed and instruments on the flight test aircraft have to be changed.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President Scott Fancher told reporters Thursday that Boeing still plans to deliver its first 787 to Japan’s ANA by the end of the year. To be cautious Boeing is saying the delivery might be extended a few weeks into 2011.

Fancher says the need to change test instrumentation on the flight test planes and additional inspections “stacked up” and reduced the time margin in the testing schedule.