ANA and Boeing to Conduct 787 Service Validation in Japan

Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will use the second flight-test 787-8, known as ZA002, to simulate in-service operations across several airports in Japan to help prove the 787’s readiness to enter service on a commercial basis.

The service-ready operational validation is expected to take place during the week of July 4. Anticipated ANA city-pair routes for the 7887 service-validation exercise include trips between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and airports in Osaka (Itami and Kansai), Okayama and Hiroshima.

This will be the 787’s maiden appearance in Japan. ANA is the launch customer for the Boeing 787 and has 55 Dreamliners on order. Boeing says the 787, which will be deployed across the ANA route network, is an integral part of ANA’s strategy to strengthen its position and support its growth and expansion plans.

“ANA is eager to introduce the innovative 787 Dreamliner to Japan,” says Shinichiro Ito, ANA’s president and chief executive officer. “Giving our employees the opportunity to gain experience with the airplane will help ensure a smoother entry into service later this year.”

Using the second flight-test Boeing 787-8, known as ZA002, Boeing and ANA are simulating in-service operations across several airports in Japan during the week of July 4, 201 in a service-ready operational validation of the 787

“We’ve put the airplane through its paces in a rigorous flight test program,” says Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Now, as we get closer to first delivery, we’ll prove out its capabilities and reliability in a revenue-like environment.”

ANA’s maintenance crews will practice maintenance and servicing of the Boeing 787-8 during the validation. This will include typical ground-servicing activities, fit-checks of aircraft jacks and maintenance-hangar stands, towing and refueling the 787, and other routine maintenance operations.

The manufacturer says similar service-ready validations have been conducted successfully on previous Boeing programs, including the 777, 737NG and 757-300.

Boeing plans to deliver the first 787-8 to ANA in the August-to-September timeframe.