787 chief says plane is on track

Boeing's new leader for the 787 program said today the first plane is on track for power to be turned on "around late January" and expressed confidence the company can meet its schedule for flying the plane during the first quarter of 2008.

Pat Shanahan, named to head the program almost two months ago, said in his first briefing for analysts and media that "we're starting to turn the corner" on finishing the installation work that was left undone by its major supplier partners.

As it struggles to finish that first airplane in the face of parts shortages and incomplete work, Boeing must look ahead to rapid assembly of the next two planes for fatigue and stress testing. Shanahan said that "for both these airplanes the condition of assembly is much improved over the first airplane."

Despite the problems with its suppliers, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Carson reiterated that "we believe in our global business model."

The company is on schedule to begin delivering the first airplanes by the end November or early December of next year, Carson said.