In the UK the new 787 Dreamliner will make a major contribution to delivering sustainable aviation development, enabling efficient point-to-point travel to many more destinations from Britain’s airports. The 787 will connect more than 450 new airport pairs around the world; Manchester to Perth would be possible for example.

The 787 Dreamliner, serving the mid sized segment of the market, comes in three models, -3, -8 and -9, to give airlines the strategic tools they need to meet passengers’ desires in this crucial and demanding market. The -8 carries 242 tri-class passengers about 7,900 nmi and the -9 carries 280 passengers in a tri-class configuration about 8,500 nmi. The -3 is the same size as the -8, however, it improves efficiencies for shorter range 3,000 nmi routes while carrying 317 dual-class passengers.

Boeing forecasts over 50 per cent more aircraft than Airbus in the middle of the market, based on the conviction that passengers want to fly where they want to go, when they want to go. Accordingly, this segment is where the company has dedicated most product development resources.

The UK’s aerospace industry is making a major contribution to this state-of-the-art, 24 hour a day, global collaborative programme, creating news skills, generating new manufacturing and maintenance processes and enhancing competitiveness. New partnership secure programme lifetime involvement with British industry. The UK’s aerospace community across the regions including: GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Messier-Dowty, Cobham, GKN, Ultra Electronics, Eaton Aerospace, Claverham, QinetiQ and the AMRC is playing a key role in the programme.

The broad range of scientific and industrial capability from within the UK’s aerospace industry that is being applied to the 787 Dreamliner includes:

• Aerodynamics
• Composites
• Engines
• Control Surfaces
• Electronics
• Machining
• Fuel Systems

In delivering sustainable aviation growth for the UK’s air transport industry, the 787 uses 20 per cent less fuel (per seat) than the comparable Boeing 767, produces 20 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions and is quieter for communities, crews and passengers. The noise footprint is some 60 per cent smaller.