Sat, Dec 25, 2010
787 Flight Testing Resumes After Interim Solution Verified
Through "Extensive Testing"
Boeing resumed flight test activities on the 787 Dreamliner
Thursday. The company has installed an interim version of updated
power distribution system software and conducted a "rigorous set of
reviews" to confirm the flight readiness of ZA004, the first of the
six flight test airplanes to return to flight.
Dreamliner ZA004
"Initially, we will resume a series of Boeing tests that remain
to be completed in the flight test program. That testing will be
followed later by a resumption of certification testing," said
Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787
program. Today's testing will include an intentional deployment of
the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), which is a small turbine that is
deployed when back-up power is required.
Boeing and Hamilton Sundstrand completed testing of the interim
software updates earlier this week. Verification of the system
included laboratory testing of standalone components, integration
testing with other systems, flight simulator testing and
ground-based testing on a flight test airplane.
In the last several weeks, the company continued ground testing
as part of the certification program. Additional ground testing
will be done by the company on the production version of the
airplane to further verify performance of the changes being
made.
"As we return to flight test and determine the pace of that
activity, we remain focused on developing a new program schedule,"
Fancher added. "We expect to complete our assessment of the program
schedule in January."
Flight testing of the 787 was suspended last month following an
in-flight electrical incident on a test flight in Laredo,
Texas.
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