Dream Liner Flight Test Program Progressing

EVERETT, Wash., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Boeing (NYSE: BA) expanded type
inspection authorization (TIA) today, clearing the way for its
personnel to fully participate in future test flights and for the
collection of required flight-test data. Initial TIA was granted Feb.
11, which supported the collection of flutter certification data.

The expanded TIA marks the FAA's confirmation that the airplane and
team are ready to collect additional certification data. Boeing
achieved the expansion by demonstrating the readiness of the airplane
throughout a variety of speeds, altitudes and configurations.

"This TIA expansion is another significant step toward delivering
airplanes to our customers. We remain on track to deliver the first
airplane to ANA this year," said Scott Fancher, vice president and
general manager of the 787 program, Commercial Airplanes.
In addition to receiving expanded TIA, Boeing finalized the
aerodynamic configuration of the 787.

"We have completed sufficient testing to decide that no additional
changes to the external lines or shape of the airplane are required,"
said Fancher. "Having an airplane match its expected performance with
so few changes is rare and speaks to the maturity of the design."
The 787 flight-test fleet logged its 500th hour of flying April 16. On
Sunday, ZA003, the flight-test airplane outfitted with interior
elements, landed in Florida, where it will go through extreme weather
testing at McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base.

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