Boeing 787 flies after two years of delays
Despite the cloudy skies, Boeing’s 787 took off for its first flight on Tuesday.
The 787 Dreamliner’s highly anticipated flight was witnessed by several thousand Boeing employees, industry VIPs, plane enthusiasts and reporters, but excitement and relief rippled throughout the aerospace industry.
The four-hour test flight of the 787, painted with Boeing’s blue and white logo, began at Paine Field adjacent to its factory in Everett 30 miles north of Seattle. It will fly around the Puget Sound and inland Washington state. The aircraft will land at Boeing Field in Seattle.
The flight begins at least nine months of airborne tests that will involve six 787s running around the clock, which Boeing executives have said will be like running a small airline.
U.S., Japan reach open skies pact
A new Open Skies pact between Japan and the United States will give United Parcel Service more freedom to add air service in competition with FedEx.
The pact is contingent on approval for Japan’s troubled international airlines to strike new joint ventures.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways both need antitrust approval for operating agreements with foreign airlines, including U.S. carriers, as they cope with huge losses and heavy debt burdens.
FedEx is the dominant U.S. cargo airline serving the country, with UPS granted only limited rights under the highly restrictive treaty.
Airlines commit to purchase green fuel at Sea-Tac
Fifteen airlines have agreed to a memorandum of understanding with AltAir Fuels LLC and Rentech Inc. to purchase alternative fuel as early as the fourth quarter of 2012.
The deal is the single largest agreement of its type and will account for 10%-15% of the fuel used at Seattle-Tacoma International, according to Tom Todaro, CEO of AltAir. “We commend ATA and its member airlines’ commitment to reducing carbon emissions and the leadership role they have taken in the airline industry,” Todaro said. “Our camelina-based fuels will reduce emissions while providing farmers across the United States with additional revenue sources, creating green jobs.”
(Photo: Drewski2112/Flickr Creative Commons)
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