Aeronautics, Space and Defence

June 2006

Japanese Aircraft Makers To Boost Output Of Boeing 787 Bodies
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. will step up production of bodies for Boeing 787 Dreamliner midsize passenger aircraft, which are scheduled to enter service in 2008. Boeing Co. started developing the Dreamliner, which can carry 200 to 300 passengers, in April 2004. The three Japanese manufacturers collaborate in developing and manufacturing bodies, accounting for 35% of the total structure. Mitsubishi Heavy is in charge of producing the main wing box. It has decided to output such parts for 10 planes a month, instead of seven planes under the original plan. Construction of new factories is under way in Nagoya, with the cost reaching about 50 billion yen. Responding to the plan to produce 10 planes a month, Kawasaki Heavy, which makes portions of the forward fuselage, is completing construction of a facility for the Dreamliner at a plant in Yatomi, Aichi Prefecture. Fuji Heavy, in charge of producing the center wing box, has completed two factories in Handa, Aichi Prefecture, and is gearing up for operational launch as early as this month. (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, June 2, 2006)