Boeing 777X in good shape says Emirates chief

The Boeing 777X program is in good shape according to Emirates President Sir Tim Clark. Speaking to a media roundtable at IATA in Sydney Sir Tim told AirlineRatings.com that the first one would be delivered to Emirates in June 2020. On where the program is Sir Tim said: "it's in good shape and just about where needs to be." Sir Tim said that the engine (GE9X) is performing very well. "Surprisingly good and the engine is a lot better than most [at this stage of its testing progarm] - it’s a good story." Sir Tim has been the driving force behind the 777X as he was on the 777-300ER / 200LR. Emirates has ordered 115 777-9X and 35 777-8Xs. The first 777X is under construction with roll-out expected in the December / January time frame.

The GE9XTM engine for the Boeing 777X was test-flown in March under the wing of GE Aviation’s 747 flying testbeds in Victorville, California. Certification testing of the GE9X engine began in May 2017. Beyond flight testing, the engine recently completed icing tests at GE Aviation’s facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and continues crosswind testing at the Peebles Test Operation in Ohio. Engine certification is expected in 2019. With almost 700 GE9X engines on order, the GE9X engine will be in the 100,000-pound thrust class and will have the largest front fan at 134 inches in diameter with a composite fan case and 16 fourth generation carbon fiber composite fan blades. Other key features include: a next-generation 27:1 pressure-ratio 11-stage high-pressure compressor; a third-generation TAPS III combustor for high efficiency and low emissions; and CMC material in the combustor and turbine. IHI Corporation, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Aero Boosters and MTU Aero Engines AG are participants in the GE9X engine program. The test flying of the engine to validate bench testing is critical for Boeing to provide hard data to Qantas for its Project Sunrise for a Sydney to New York and Sydney to London non-stop capability for the 777X-8. Sir Tim's comments are thus good news for Boeing's pitch to Qantas.