Maiden flight for Boeing Dreamliner

16/12/2009| IslamWeb

After two years of delays, Boeing's new lightweight 787 Dreamliner passenger jet has flown its first test flight.

Thousands of employees and spectators witnessed the flight near the company's factory in the US state of Washington.

Tuesday's test flight lasted about three hours, having been cut short by an hour by bad weather.

"The airplane responded just as we expected," said Randy Neville, one of the two pilots.

"It was a joy to fly."

Over the next nine months, six 787s will be used in a flight certification program, subjecting the aircraft to conditions well beyond those found in normal service.

About half the Dreamliner is made from lightweight composite materials such as carbon fibre, which Boeing says that will save airlines millions of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs.

In comparison only about 12 per cent of the 777 is made from composite materials.

Lower emissions

The Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer says the Dreamliner will be quieter, produce lower emissions and use 20 per cent less fuel than comparable planes.

For passengers, Boeing says the 787 will have a more comfortable cabin with better air quality and larger windows.

The company says it has orders for 840 of the jets and plans to make the first delivery to Japan's All Nippon Airways late next year.

The debut of the 787 comes at a difficult time for the airline industry.

On Tuesday, the same day as the Dreamliner's test flight, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) warned that global airlines stand to lose $5.6bn next year.

The industry group said rising oil prices and competition with low fare carriers would continue to squeeze airlines which are already estimated to lose more than $9bn in 2009.

According to Iata passenger traffic fell 4.1 per cent in 2009, from the already-low levels they reached in 2008 when financial markets collapsed, and premium fares fell the hardest.

Boeing's Dreamliner also faces stiff competition from European manufacturer Airbus, which is working on its A350 jet as a direct competitor to the 787.

Like the Dreamliner, the Airbus jet also features composite materials, including in the fuselage and wings.

According to its website, Airbus has received 505 orders for the A350 from 32 customers as of November.

The A350 is expected to fly in mid-2013.

PHOTO CAPTION

File photo shows a mock-up of the interior of the Boeing Dreamliner.

Al-Jazeera