Boeing Resumes 787 Dreamliner Deliveries
Boeing’s massive aircraft assembly facility in North Charleston, S.C. has resumed deliveries of the aerospace giant’s 787 Dreamliner passenger jet, after the discovery of structural flaws in some of the planes led to five months of engineering analysis and inspection work.
“Our commitment to safety and compliance led us to thoroughly examine many aspects of the program to ensure we continue to deliver airplanes that meet all regulatory requirements and Boeing’s highest quality standards,” Boeing said in a statement.
Manufacturing the 787 Dreamliner has always been a complex process. Not only is it the first passenger aircraft made almost entirely of composite material, but Boeing created a unique worldwide supply chain to carry out the project — even transporting parts around the world on a specially outfitted aircraft called “the Dreamlifter.”
Boeing says the aircraft’s unparalleled fuel efficiency and range flexibility enables carriers to profitably open new routes as well as optimize fleet and network performance.
Since halting deliveries in October, Boeing has built up an inventory of more than 80 finished planes, according to aviation data provider Ascend by Cirium.
The resumed deliveries from the South Carolina factory come after Boeing undertook painstaking repairs and forensic inspections of each aircraft.
