Worldliner Ready For Service

After an intensive six-month test program involving two aircraft -- one of which set a new distance record for a commercial airliner last November -- Boeing announced Thursday the 777-200LR "Worldliner" has been certified by US and European authorities to enter into service.

"The 777-200LR will revolutionize the way people travel with the ability to connect just about any two cities around the world," said Lars Andersen, vice president and program manager, 777 Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777-200LR is more fuel efficient, has more range, and carries more passengers and cargo than the competition."

The FAA and EASA certifications grant an amended type certificate for the 777 and a production certificate authorizing Boeing to build the 777-200LR and deliver it to airlines for passenger service. The first 777-200LR will be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines later this month.

Certification approval by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) comes just shy of a year after Boeing officially unveiled the Worldliner.

To develop the aircraft, Boeing strengthened the 777's primary structure to accommodate the increased gross weight for takeoff and a higher engine thrust. Provisions were also added to allow the 777-200LR to carry up to three additional fuel tanks.

Two 777-200LR flight test airplanes completed 886 flight hours on 328 flights, and 318 ground test hours. On both test airplanes, 27.8 miles of wiring were installed for the instrumentation used to record flight test data. More than 73 terabits (73 followed by 12 zeros) of data were recorded and analyzed.

(Boeing kept an online journal of the 777-200LR flight test activity, which is available here.)

With its strengthened airframe and added fuel capacity, the Worldliner will also serve as the platform for the upcoming 777 Freighter.

The 777-200LR uses many of the same advances developed with the 777-300ER (Extended Range), such as raked wingtips and other drag reducing improvements, and tail-strike protection.

Boeing states the Worldliner is capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world nonstop -- it can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,445 kilometers).

In addition to Pakistan International Airlines, EVA Air, Emirates, Air Canada, and Air India have ordered the 777-200LR. To date, 44 airlines around the world have ordered 827 777s.

FMI: www.boeing.com