Boeing is predicting "another phenomenal year" for the 787 in 2006, with Mike Bair, VP and GM of the Dreamliner program, telling ATWOnline that there are another 30 offers out to airlines for 500 787s on top of the 28 customers who have committed to 386 aircraft.

"We thought the demand might slow up a bit, but 2006 looks like a great year," Bair said. Boeing's 787 production is committed through 2011, but some of those slots are assigned to carriers that have not yet announced orders. The company is examining a ramp-up in production and a decision is expected mid-year. Earlier this month, Alenia confirmed it had been asked to look at an increase from seven to 10 aircraft per month.

Concerning the 787-10, Bair revealed that the model will have a range of 7,500 nm., which "meets Emirates' requirements." The carrier is expected to announce an order for 50 dash 10s at the Farnborough Air Show in July. Bair told ATWOnline that the dash 10 will be a simple payload-for-range trade with an MTOW of 540,000 lb. He said the range may change slightly as the airframer and key airlines finalize the exact stretch. It may be "40, 50 or 60 seats bigger" than the dash 9, he said.

He also had a warning for Airbus, saying the dash 10's seat-mile costs are "almost unbelievable." Yesterday this website revealed that the version will have lower cash operating costs and significantly lower fuel burn per seat than the A380.

The 787-8 will fly "late summer in 2007" and be delivered "in early summer 2008," according to Bair. The test program will include six aircraft and be one of the tightest ever for a Boeing or Douglas jet.

He said 787 production, which is the world's largest industrial program, is proceeding "remarkably smoothly" at 132 sites around the globe. Rolls-Royce and General Electric offer engines for the aircraft that have run at more than 80,000 lb. thrust and are operating flawlessly, he noted. The Trent 1000 and GEnx will be certified up to 75,000 lb.