MSN 171 may yet still be delivered this year
Time is flying away for MSN171 for delivery this year, it is now at 11 weeks since arrival, fastest EK frame to roll out from OF with door-work is MSN169 at 14 weeks which could see MSN171 roll out first week of December. Why not,
though for deliveries this year:
.there are still flight tests to conduct on rolled out frames (MSN165)
.there are still CFF+flight tests on three other rolled out frames (MSN168 MSN169) including one HoV (MSN171)
.there is still rollout/CFF/flight test to have on one frame that hasn't rolled out yet... (MSN160, time is shortening as well... though more likely to roll out before MSN171, MSN160 now at 25 weeks since arrival at XFW)
...and MSN171 has always been planned for 2015...
To me, extreme chances to see MSN171 delivered as planned next year..
deliveries next calendar year might just get to MSN 205 as originally planned.
Thanks
sean! I don't remember though seeing anything announced for EK deliveries for 2015, would you please have any link stating 16 deliveries?...
Nothing officially announced other than the original plan by AB to have 30 frames delivered in 2015 if possible in order to break even for the year. Even with the required door modifications, there should be a wind down of engineering resources working on the wing modifications that will be re-allocated, potentially to production, where they can bring the most value (unless something more urgent crops up of course). The EK frames are the most familiar in configuration due to the sheer numbers, and there has been a drive to push production efficiency through the line. I'm sure there are some tangible targets on the table. A 1 to 2 week cut in average total production time if possible would be huge. There is also a fluid plan internally within EK for more speedy retirements of older aircraft (A330/340s, 777 classics). Average aircraft size is becoming the only way EK can grow. In fact, they will have to cut back growth in 2015 due to the current ATM, slot and DXB airfield capacity constraints.
