Daily Updates
Monday July 17th
The opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow was a busy one for Boeing.
The leaders of Boeing's two main business units each conducted press conferences to provide overviews of their respective organizations. Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Integrated Defense Systems, said IDS is raising the bar by improving execution and productivity, enhancing customer intimacy and delivering timely, customer-based solutions. Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the business unit's vision of the marketplace is being validated. This vision foresees market liberalization, coupled with technology, continuing to drive travel trends and future product strategy.
Commercial Airplanes also made two order announcements. Boeing and Jakarta-based Lion Air said the airline exercised purchase rights and ordered an additional 30 737-900ERs (Extended Range). That decision brings to 60 the number of 737-900ERs the airline has ordered. And LoadAir Cargo, an air freight operation based in Kuwait, signed an order for the delivery of two 747-400 Extended Range Freighters.
In IDS activity, Boeing said it's expanding its presence in the United Kingdom with the establishment of a new facility in Bristol, England, to support its growing defense business activities. The new facility, part of the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Boeing Defence UK, Ltd., will support Boeing's efforts on the Future Rapid Effect System program.
Meanwhile, taking part in the afternoon flying display was not only the F/A-18, which has performed at previous Farnborough shows, but also the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. Making its first appearance at Farnborough, the V-22 takes off and lands like a helicopter; once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to an airplane configuration capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.
News Releases/Statements:
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner Demonstration Wing Box Complete; Testing Set to Begin
- Lion Air Orders an Additional 30 Boeing 737-900ERs
- Boeing, LoadAir Sign Order Agreement for Two 747-400ER Freighters
- Boeing Begins Airworthiness Testing of Upgraded AWACS Aircraft
- Boeing Receives U.S. Air Forces Europe Aircrew Training Contract
- Boeing to Expand UK Defense Presence in Support of FRES Program
Tuesday July 18th
Boeing continued to make headlines from the Farnborough International Airshow by announcing jetliner orders.
- With its order for six 787 Dreamliners, Pegasus Aviation Finance Co. became the third leasing company to purchase the all-new airplane. The order includes an order for four 787s that was transferred to Pegasus from Blue Panorama of Italy, which will lease these airplanes from Pegasus, along with Pegasus' order for an additional two 787s.
- Emirates SkyCargo said it intended to purchase 10 747-8 Freighters to meet the needs of its expanding air freight business. The order is expected to be finalized in the near future.
- Boeing and Aviation Capital Group said the lessor has placed an order for 14 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s. The airplanes were included on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Orders and Deliveries Web site earlier this year, attributed to an unidentified customer.
Meanwhile, executives from two high-profile Boeing airplane programs gave briefings on their respective businesses.
Mike Bair, 787 program vice president and general manager, told reporters that Boeing and its supplier partners are making great progress on that new airplane. Major assembly began at Fuji Heavy Industries "on schedule - to the day - that we'd set two years ago," Bair said. "It's becoming really exciting for the 787 program." Bair also provided an update on another aspect of the program: the development of the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) that will be used to transport large structural elements from Italy and Japan to the United States. Completion of the first LCF continues in Taiwan, with first flight expected next month
In addition, Ron Marcotte, Integrated Defense Systems vice president and general manager of Global Mobility Systems, lauded the capabilities of the C-17 Globemaster III. "There is no substitute for the C-17," he said at a C-17 press briefing. "It combines outsize transportability with the capability of smaller aircraft like the C-130." Vice President and C-17 Program Manager Dave Bowman provided a program update, noting that Boeing is aggressively pursuing every domestic and international opportunity to keep the production line open. The 153rd C-17 for the U.S. Air Force - and first Block 17 aircraft - delivered Tuesday as well.
News Releases/Statements:
Wednesday July 19th
Traditionally, the busiest days at the weeklong Farnborough International Airshow are Monday and Tuesday. Yet Boeing ratcheted up its activity on Wednesday by conducting five press briefings.
Here are highlights of the news from these sessions:
- Boeing introduced a new program that will extend the service life of C-130 aircraft up to 30 years. The C-130 Total Life Extension (TLE) program addresses several aircraft modernization needs, including avionics, wiring, structures and systems. Key benefits include an innovative, patent-pending Center Wing Box solution, a comprehensive avionics modification, and compliance with 21st century civil aviation standards. The C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is part of the overall TLE avionics package.
- The Boeing P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft is on schedule and on budget, said Capt. Mike Moran, U.S. Navy P-8A Integrated Product Team lead. Providing a program update with Integrated Defense Systems Director of Business Development Tim Norgart, Moran said teaming with Boeing, understanding requirements and strong Navy support have ensured program success to date.
- Development efforts for the 747-8 airplane are on schedule, said Randy Tinseth, vice president of Sales, Marketing and In-Service Support for the Boeing 747 program. "We have achieved several program milestones since launching the 747-8," he said.
- Boeing said it has added SR Technics, Smiths Aerospace and Hamilton Sundstrand as partners on its GoldCare program. GoldCare is a Boeing-led maintenance, engineering and spares logistics program for 787 Dreamliner customers.
Boeing also continued to announce orders for airplanes.
Boeing and International Lease Finance Corp. said the lessor has ordered six 737-800s, two 777-300ERs and two 787 Dreamliners, valued at approximately $1.2 billion at list prices. Deliveries of the 737s and the 777s will begin in the first quarter of 2009; 787 deliveries will begin in early 2012. And Flyington Freighters, a Hyderabad, India-based freight carrier, announced an agreement to buy four 777 Freighters, subject to statutory clearances.
News Releases/Statements:
- Boeing names SR Technics, Smiths and Hamilton Sundstrand to GoldCare Team
- Boeing and ILFC Announce Order for 10 New Airplanes
- Boeing Statement Regarding Flyington Freighters Announcement for 777 Freighters
- Boeing and QinetiQ Expand Network-enabled Capabilities in U.K. and U.S.
- Boeing Announces C-130 Total Life Extension Program
Thursday July 20th / Friday July 21st
The trade days of this year's Farnborough International Airshow are winding down. Yet Boeing continues to maintain its presence at the event.
Boeing and Futura International Airways said on Friday that the carrier ordered three Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s, along with three purchase rights for the jetliner. The order for three airplanes is valued at approximately $210 million at list prices. The new airplanes, scheduled for delivery in 2009 and 2010, are for fleet growth. Futura is a charter airline headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Meanwhile, show attendees continued to marvel at the afternoon flying demonstrations. Representing Boeing was the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
And showgoers continued to visit the Boeing DreamSpace, a unique exhibit that spotlights Boeing Commercial Airplanes' vision and products. The DreamSpace, set up in a structure separate from other companies' exhibits at Farnborough, offers a striking visual display that highlights the benefits of the 747-8 family of airplanes. Touch-screen videos visually depict the new airplane's structural changes. And a world map on the wall sparkles with lights marking the 200 world destinations ready to receive the 747-8, versus the 20 cities that can accommodate competing larger airplanes.
Also at the DreamSpace:
- A variety of other videos available at the tap of a screen, including one showing Renton, Wash., site employees building a 737 in a "put-together-quickly" time-lapse format.
- A mock-up of the 787 Dreamliner interior. The view out the window of the cabin mock-up offers moving landscape and sky, as though the cabin was in flight. Visitors to the exhibit also can test the 787's dimmable windows, which made their debut at Farnborough. At the touch of a button, the windows dim very futuristically, like some eyeglasses do when going from sun to shade.
- A flight simulator in the DreamSpace, to let visitors feel as if they were flying an airplane of the future.