Introducing the 787 Freighter

A 787 Freighter?

Well not really, but according to a Reuters report, once Boeing’s fix for the 787 battery problem is certified, All Nippon Airlines plans to put its pilots through some training flights with the goal of resuming 787 service in June. These would be cargo-only flights, carried out so that the flying public would be reassured about the safety of the 787.

Various routes have been hinted at in the media, including Japan-Germany, but the Reuters report points to Tokyo-Naha-Tokyo. Given that Naha (on the island of Okinawa) is the hub from which ANA conducts its 767-300F operations, this makes sense.

But here’s the interesting part: According to Reuters, “Before the grounding, ANA used the Dreamliner about twice a week to carry cargo between Tokyo and Naha.” So the 787 Freighter has actually been operating for quite some time. Who knew?

On a more serious note, Boeing today released a statement saying it had “completed a 787 certification demonstration flight.” The purpose of the flight was “to demonstrate that the new battery system performs as intended during normal and non-normal flight conditions.”

Boeing says it will now gather and analyze the data and submit the required materials to the FAA “in the coming days.”