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U.S., European aviation authorities approve Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

2011-08-27 15:25:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

EVERETT, WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Friday approved production and use of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt made the announcement at an event at Boeing's facility in Everett, Washington. He said that, after the FAA's rigorous review, two certificates for the design and production of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Rolls-Royce engines was presented to Boeing executives.

The two certificates - a Production Certificate and a Type Certificate - allows Boeing to manufacture the aircraft, which is a medium-size commercial transport airplane, and approves its design. Prior to the its approval, FAA inspectors reviewed the company's quality system, production tooling, manufacturing processes and controls, inspection methods, and supplier control procedures.

On March 28, 2003, Boeing made its initial application to the FAA and, in April 2004, the program was launched. The first 787 rollout ceremony was on July 8, 2007, at Boeing's Everett assembly factory.

"The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an incredible technological achievement - one that sets a new standard for innovation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The new engine technology is fuel-efficient and reduces noise, minimizing the impact on the environment. Those are key to meeting our NextGen goals."

The airplane first flew on December 15, 2009, and the six flight test airplanes have since accumulated more than 4,645 flight hours, with approximately 25 percent of those hours flown by FAA flight test crews. In addition, more than 200,000 hours were logged by FAA technical experts who were involved in the type certification of the 787.

Patrick Goudou, executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), presented Dan Mooney, vice president of 787-8 Development, and Terry Beezhold, former leader of the 787 Airplane Level Integration Team, with the European Type Certificate for the 787.

"The use of composite material which account for more than 50 percent of the aircraft's primary structure is one of the major characteristics of the B787-8," EASA said in a statement. "The aircraft has shown compliance to EASA certification standards and will enter into service later this year with All Nippon Airways."

The European Safety Agency also issued a same day validation of the FAA Type Certificate of the 787.

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