Boeing confirms it is leasing a 747-400BCF to Cargolux to cover a capacity shortfall caused by the extended delay to the delivery of the first 747-8F.
The former Korean Air 747 was delivered to the freight carrier via Hamburg, Germany on Jan. 25 following refurbishment and repainting into partial Cargolux colors at Marana, Ariz. Cargolux, which operates 16 747-400Fs, was forced to lease the aircraft after Boeing announced in September 2010 it was pushing back delivery of the first 747-8F by around six months to mid-2011.
Cargolux, which became launch customer for the stretched variant in November 2005, originally expected to take delivery in the third quarter of 2009, but following successive production and development issues had revised its capacity requirements around a re-scheduled first 747-8F delivery in December 2010.
At the time Cargolux, fresh from battling through the serious cargo market downturn of 2009, said it viewed the delivery slip “with mixed emotions.”
“On one hand, the delay helped us to preserve much-needed cash,” Cargolux said. “On the other hand, we could have well used the added efficiency, lower fuel consumption, higher range and payload to reduce our operating costs.”
Prior to its lease to Cargolux, the former Korean 747 had been used in the 747-8 flight test program as part of efforts to determine if the stretched freighter’s wake turbulence is significantly different to the standard aircraft. Tests in California involved analysis of the wake vortex of both aircraft using a lidar (light detection and ranging) system. Boeing is working through the results to assess if the 747-8 will be approved for the same separation requirements as the current 747-400.
Delays have been caused by an underperforming aileron actuator and a low frequency vibration, the latter having been cured by the installation of a structural dampening fix called the outboard aileron modal suppression (OAMS) system. Testing of an improved inboard aileron actuator power control unit (PCU) continues on RC522 based out of Boeing Field. PCU regression and ice shapes tests have also been undertaken by a sistership, RC521, based out of San Bernardino, Calif. Tests of this aircraft, along with the first 747-8F, RC501, were moved there from nearby Palmdale, because of hangar availability, says Boeing.
RC501 has been equipped with pressure belts and is conducting a flight loads survey to measure actual stresses against predicted loads, says a Boeing spokesman. “For 501 we need to keep the pressure belts dry and couldn’t afford to have a storm sweep through and drench the aircraft and damage the belts. We couldn’t arrange for a hangar in Palmdale. For 521 we needed a hangar to facilitate ice shapes installations,” the spokesman says.
A fifth test aircraft, added to support the program in 2010, is due to make its first flight on Feb 3. The fourth aircraft, which supplemented the over-stretched test campaign earlier in the year, is meanwhile undertaking thrust management testing.
Boeing CEO James McNerney says the 747-8F flight test program is nearing the 1,700 flight hour mark and, with in excess of 600 flights accomplished, is roughly two-thirds of the way through its test program. With fixes for the aileron vibration and modal suppression issues discovered last year now completing flight test, Boeing remains confident of achieving first delivery around mid-2011. Speaking on the company’s recent earnings call, McNerney says development of the -8I passenger variant meanwhile remains on track for first flight in late March, while both the first two aircraft have now achieved ‘power-on’ in ground tests.
Boeing Chief Financial Officer James Bell adds deliveries for 2011 are expected to cover between 485 and 400 aircraft, and that all positions through December are sold out. This includes between 25 and 40 747-8/787s, divided “roughly equally between the two programs.” Analysts suggest Boeing’s internal planning calls for deliveries of up to 17 747-8s by year-end.
No comments:
Post a Comment