Aviation
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Asia
paused tests
Tim Clark: Boeing 777X test program was paused by engine problems
Boeing 777X-9
Image: Boeing
Rafael Ramos
12/1/2022
Tim Clark, head of the Emirates company, has always shown great interest in having the New Boeing 777X in his company's fleet. However, he is expressing his frustration with the widebody's delay and lack of progress.
Tim Clark is more fearful than ever as problems with the big GE9X engines have halted testing of the plane, which could delay things further.
Emirates operates a fleet entirely of widebody aircraft that is already aging and needs new deliveries to renew. Delays on the 777X are a headache when they occur. The plane has already been delayed for more than 5 years.
Emirates has already postponed the retirement of the Airbus A380 while the Boeing 777X is yet to arrive, which the company has noted is unlikely to happen before 2025.
"We know there was an engine failure in October. They stopped the test program – not that there was much going on anyway. They dropped the engine, took it to General Electric in Cincinnati, and on December 6, 2022, we'll have an alert as to what the problem is. Until then, we await the results of the engine failure," said Clark.
Despite this, Clark did not say exactly what the problems were, noting that it is possible that testing will resume in January.
Boeing, on another occasion, said that the delivery of the first 777-9 should happen by the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. Tim Clark thinks that date is July 2025, judging by the current progress.
"The aircraft is more than five years behind schedule and if it continues to be late, our patience will be truly tested. We have an aging fleet that needs to be replaced," he said.
"GE is reviewing a technical issue that occurred during post-certification engineering testing of the GE9X, and we are closely coordinating with Boeing on our findings to support its return to flight testing," GE said.
Airbus A380
CC BY-SA 3.0, via wikimedia commons
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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