Boeing 787

Boeing 787
Name	Boeing 787
Role	Wide-body jet airliner
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight	15 December 2009
Introduction	26 October 2011
Status	In service

Boeing 787 is a family of wide-body commercial airliners developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, introduced to serve long-haul and medium-haul routes with improved fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The program involved extensive collaboration with global suppliers including Rolls-Royce, General Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alenia Aermacchi, and competed directly with the Airbus A330neo and Airbus A350 XWB. The 787 program influenced aircraft procurement at carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and British Airways, and prompted regulatory scrutiny from agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Development

Development of the 787 began with Boeing's Project 7E7 initiative, announced amid market shifts influenced by the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the rise of low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines and EasyJet. Boeing sought to capture demand for fuel-efficient aircraft following high oil prices and the introduction of competitors like the Airbus A380 and the later Airbus A350 XWB. Major risk-sharing partners included Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries, and Spirit AeroSystems, forming a global supply chain spanning Seattle, Nagoya, Vancouver (Washington), and Wichita, Kansas. The program experienced delays due to supply-chain challenges, composite manufacturing issues, and gaps in systems integration, prompting executive changes at Boeing and labor negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Design and Features

The 787 introduced extensive use of composite materials, primarily carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, produced by suppliers such as Toray Industries and assembled using tooling from Vought Aircraft Industries. Aerodynamic innovations included raked wingtips informed by research at NASA Langley Research Center and Boeing Research & Technology. Engines offered were the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and the General Electric GEnx, each developed with engine partners including Pratt & Whitney for competing programs. Cabin innovations emphasized passenger comfort with higher cabin pressurization approximating sea-level conditions advocated by Honeywell International, larger electrochromic windows supplied by Pipistrel, improved HEPA filters promoted by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and LED mood lighting from Marriott International-style interior consultants. Avionics and flight systems integrated components from Rockwell Collins, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Thales Group.

Variants

The family includes multiple versions targeting different route profiles and capacities: a short- to medium-range variant developed alongside a stretched derivative to compete with the Boeing 777 market, and a longer-range, higher-capacity variant aimed at hub-to-hub transoceanic routes. Specific model designations reflect seating and range adaptations, with passenger configurations tailored by customers including Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and Etihad Airways. Freight and military conversions attracted interest from cargo operators like UPS Airlines and national agencies including the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for special mission variants.

Operational History

Entry into service began with All Nippon Airways on a premier Tokyo route, followed by rapid adoption by legacy carriers including British Airways, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Air India. Airline operational strategies leveraged the 787 for point-to-point networks advocated by executives from Delta Air Lines and Ryanair-style low-cost long-haul initiatives. The program influenced fleet planning decisions at leasing companies such as AerCap, GE Capital Aviation Services, and Avolon. Operational data collection and performance validation involved partnerships with research institutions like MIT and University of Cambridge for fuel-burn and emissions studies.

Safety and Incidents

The 787's safety record has been monitored by authorities including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Incidents have involved issues such as lithium-ion battery thermal events leading to a temporary grounding ordered by the FAA and directives from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Investigations engaged manufacturers including Panasonic Avionics for cabin systems and Honeywell for environmental control components. Subsequent airworthiness directives and design changes addressed in-service occurrences, with continued oversight from organizations like ICAO and airline safety departments at United Airlines and Japan Airlines.

Operators and Orders

Major operators include All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Air Canada. Leasing companies such as AerCap and SMBC Aviation Capital placed substantial orders, while state-owned airlines like Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines used the type for network expansion. Sales campaigns faced competition from Airbus and relied on negotiating teams interacting with export-credit agencies including Export-Import Bank of the United States and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Specifications and Performance

Typical seating configurations range from approximately 200 to 330 passengers depending on variant and layout chosen by carriers like Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa. Performance metrics touted by Boeing included range capability supporting transpacific routes such as Los Angeles–Tokyo and fuel savings per seat compared with older models like the Boeing 767 and Boeing 777-200ER. Systems integration incorporated flight-deck elements familiar to crews from Boeing 737 and Boeing 777 families, with common-type rating benefits acknowledged by airline training departments at KLM and Singapore Airlines. Operational economics and environmental performance continue to be analyzed by institutions including International Council on Clean Transportation and World Bank aviation studies.

Category:Wide-body aircraft