Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Another KC-X deadline passes
Today was supposed to be the day the KC-X contract was to get its go-ahead, but as has so often been the case, another deadline has come and gone.
The USAF suggests it will be done this fall, which is through December 20. We’ve previously written we believe the award will slip to the first quarter.
Meantime, here is an interesting story on the KC-X saga. Hat-tip to Flightglobal’s Steve Trimble for spotting this one.
Assessing 787 in-flight fire, Part 2
Dominic Gates of The Seattle Times has this interview with 787 program head Scott Fancher about the in-flight fire incident Tuesday of 787 ZA002.
Fancher’s interview is clearly an effort to see the bright side of an event that shouldn’t have happened and which potentially will have serious, adverse affects on Boeing. The headlines are justifiably worrisome and the Wall Street analysts are weighing in with negative reports.
Many will see Fancher’s comments as trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but in fact in an interview we did yesterday (Nov. 10) with KOMO Radio (Seattle), we noted there actually is a silver lining in the clouds that have gathered over Boeing.
Assessing 787 in-flight fire
There are plenty of news stories accessible through Google, so we won’t recap the incident here.
Here’s what we can add to the story at this time (06:30 AM PST, Nov. 10); we’ll update as needed.
Boeing says 787 deliveries will take longer than expected
Robert Stallard, aerospace analyst for RBC Capital Markets, met with Boeing execs and learned that 787 deliveries will take longer than expected, seemingly confirming reports last week from Flightblogger and Aviation Week.
Dominic Gates published this story Tuesday–just a short time before the 787 in-flight fire incident.
GEnx customers hit in 787 rescheduling
Here is a story we did for Commercial Aviation Online Tuesday, before the 787 in-flight fire.
Customers who ordered the GEnx engines are among those affected by the latest, potential Boeing 787 delivery rescheduling first revealed by CAO‘s affiliate Flightblogger, a review of Boeing’s backlog reveals.
Japan Air Lines, Korean Air Lines (KAL) and Air India each have indicated deliveries could be several months later than originally planned. JAL is looking at an additional three month delay, KAL up to 10 months and Air India up to five months. Each is a GEnx customer.
Elections results and the KC-X
The election results could have a major affect on the KC-X tanker competition.
The headlines are:
- The Republican takeover of the House means Norm Dicks (D-Boeing/WA) loses is chairmanship of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, a position from which he could conceivably block any funding of a USAF award of the contract to EADS;
- Todd Tiahrt (R-Boeing/KS) lost his primary bid to move over to the US Senate, so he’s out of Congress altogether. This is a key Boeing ally.
- Patty Murray (D-Boeing/WA) widened her razor-thin lead in Washington State over Dino Rossi (R). Although Rossi fumbled a key question about the tanker competition during the race, there really was never any doubt that Rossi would support Boeing’s bid. But if Murray wins her fourth term, and the Democrats retain control of the Senate, both of which now appear likely, Boeing retains a powerful voice in the Senate to block any EADS contract; Read more
Flight tests pending for enhanced 737
Flight tests are about to begin on a Boeing 737 ultimately destined for Continental Airlines that incorporate aerodynamic improvements designed to reduce fuel consumption by 1%.
Boeing has done some “cleaning up” of the aerodynamics by streamlining the anti-collision lights, some exhaust ports and slat-to-wing connections, plus some improvements around the main gear wheel bay.
Flights will continue through April, when the plane will be refreshed and delivered to Continental, which is also receiving the new Boeing Sky Interior (see the following post).
Boeing Sky Interior delivery today
Boeing is delivering its first 737 “Boeing Sky Interior” today to FlyDubai. The interior is inspired by the 787, which was also adapted to the 747-8.
Here is a link to a feature story prepared by Boeing’s Corp Com specialist Bernard Choi that was dated last July.
New delay likely in tanker competition
We have been told by two sources, including one that is very close to the competition, that the Air Force is likely to announce a new delay soon in evaluation and award of a contract in the long-running KC-X tanker competition.
One source says the delay will be until the first quarter; the other didn’t have a new timeline but said the USAF was preparing to notify the competitors any time now.