Boeing is expected to announce that first flight of the long-delayed 787 could slip into the second quarter of 2009 as a result of the production- line problems caused by the machinists' strike and the fastener replacement issue.
According to Reuters and the Wall St Journal, Boeing is likely to confirm the additional delay in the coming days. Boeing declines to comment on the reports, but says the fallout from the strike and downstream effects of the fastener problem are still being worked out. "We are currently conducting an assessment of the 787 program schedule. We will communicate it when it is complete. We do not have the exact timing yet on when that communication will occur," says the manufacturer.
Source: Aviation Week