FLIGHT TESTING
projects by airworthiness regulators.
Industry commentators believe that the
marketing launch for the New Mid-market
Airplane program, already dubbed “797”,
which was expected at last June’s Paris
Airshow may have been hit by the 737 Max
problems.
In October, Brazil’s Embraer pushed
back to 2020 its “timeline” for
establishment of a joint venture under
which Boeing will acquire 80% of its
commercial-aircraft business (that will be
known as Boeing Brazil – Commercial).
5
16 SHOWCASE 2020 \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM
BOEING 737 MAX
In August 2019, Boeing began to recruit
workers to prepare stored new-build Max
aircraft for return to service. Nevertheless,
US airworthiness regulators had not, by
October, made public statements echoing
the manufacturer’s own declarations
regarding a potential “re-certification” and
related return to service before the end
of 2019.
Boeing reportedly reduced Max
production from 52 to 42 a month in
August with a return to the higher volume
predicted in February 2020. The aircraft’s
return to service are predicated on the
manufacturer offering the FAA new or
modified software relating to the Max
manoeuvring characteristics augmentation
system, which it had not done by early
October, followed by a period of checking
and validation by the regulator.
BOEING 777X
Boeing is using four flight- and two
ground-test aircraft for the three-year
777-9 certification program, with first
delivery still planned for 2020 – despite
General Electric GE9X engine problems
that delayed the first flight beyond 2019
and an explosive decompression during a
static-load test that Boeing said would not
impact schedules.
The 777X is essentially a stretched 777
with new engines and an extended carbon
fiber wing which features folding wingtips
to allow. The FAA has set special
certification conditions to address worstcase
situations that could arise with the
design’s folding wingtips.
At June’s Paris Airshow, GE disclosed
its redesign of a high-pressure compressor
stator that had suffered premature hightemperature
deterioration. Subsequently,
Boeing announced that the 777-9’s first
flight had been re-scheduled for early 2020
and acknowledged the consequent pressure
this put on deliveries scheduled to begin in
the same year. Four GE9X “compliance”
engines destined to power flight-test
aircraft were recalled by GE in August; a
pair of modified engines were later
rumored to have been delivered to Boeing.
“the 777-9’s first flight
haS been re-scheduled
for early 2020”
6
5 // The GE9X engine that
will power the 777X family
has been under development
since 2012
6 // Boeing’s 777X family of
aircraft is the first to feature
folding wingtips to help it fit
into airports
/AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM