The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to undergo change incorporation work in San Antonio, Texas, returned to Everett on Nov. 13th. The airplane completed an eight month change incorporation program and will now go through final preparations in Everett before delivery to Japan Airlines (JAL).
During change incorporation, airplanes that are not part of flight test are configured to conform to the standards established by the type certification. Some of the work done in San Antonio includes installing electronic and mechanical equipment, completing software upgrades, testing functional systems, and removing and reworking wiring or equipment that needs to be updated to current configuration requirements.
The current plan is for a total of six Dreamliners to complete change incorporation and refurbishment in San Antonio. Three will complete change incorporation and three airplanes will be refurbished after flight test is complete. However, the plan is flexible and could accommodate additional 787 production needs as flight test is completed and airplanes are prepared for delivery. The work will be performed through 2013.