The Boeing 787-9 has been certified by the FAA and the EASA for commercial service. Boeing is now in the final stages of preparing for the first 787-9 delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand.
“Certification is the culmination of years of hard work and a rigorous flight-test program that started with the 787-9’s first flight last September,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “With this validation that the airplane is ready for commercial operations, Boeing along with our airline and leasing customers now look forward to introducing the newest member of the Dreamliner family to passengers around the world.”
To earn certification Boeing undertook a comprehensive test program with five airplanes and more than 1,500 hours of flight testing, plus ground and laboratory testing. Following the rigorous and thorough certification process, the FAA and EASA each granted Boeing an Amended Type Certificate for the 787-9, certifying that the design complies with aviation regulations and is safe and reliable.
The FAA also has granted Boeing an Amended Production Certificate, validating that the Boeing production system can produce 787-9s that conform to the design. EASA accepts FAA oversight of Boeing production certificates, just as the FAA accepts EASA oversight of European manufacturers’ production certificates.
Twenty-six customers around the world have ordered 413 787-9s, accounting for 40% of all 787 orders. We anticipate the 787-9 will see a greater share of 787 sales going forward.
with two exemptions…and not minor ones!
What about ETOPS?
ETOPs is 330. They carry over the -8 certification, bugs and all!
I don’t think the dial is an issue, but the RAT potentially failing? If we don’t need it why do we have it?
Add into the history of the -8 needing the RAT going into San Antonio and the battery issues I would say that should require an immediate fix with a grounding until done.
Back to business as usual with the waivers, going to bite one of these days.
I should have added the battery issue being a critical component of this and it was never resolved, lots of layers of protection and added quality control with one more minor repeat that we have not heard anything about as far as resolution .
None of it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Multiple engine failure is NOT as rare as Boeing made out. Based on the FAA’s CAAM database, there’s about 1 occurrence per year of multiple engine fail and expectation of ditching. And the RAT that failed, failed another 3 times subsequently.
If that happens at 35,000 feet, the 10 minutes of control life provided by the battery is a waste of space; after that, you’re dead.
So Boeing – entirely to convenience their sales schedule – asks for an “emergency” waiver. Within 10 days, the FAA grants it, and then the ESEA cravenly goes along with the FAA’s ruling. That commits all 787-9 passengers to at least 8 months of flying with a significant risk of catastrophe.
Catch me climbing into one of these . . . . . . ?