FlightBlogger Archive 2007-2012

ZA004 plays testbed for latest V5.5 787 software

Written by

Jon Ostrower

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I’ve received about a dozen emails this week asking me what ZA004 has been up to since its February 25th first flight. Here’s the latest:

After its ferry flight to Boeing Field, the aircraft has had additional instrumentation installed and has spent this week acting as a testbed for the Wedge V5.5 “service-ready” software load, which includes updates to the flight control module (FCM) which holds the fly-by-wire software and control laws.

Boeing has been doing “regression testing” to tease the last bugs out of the system since Wednesday, March 10. The software has been primary pacing item as the aircraft heads toward Type Inspection Authorization expected to occur by the end of the month. The aircraft should be flying again around Monday, followed by a stretch of ground testing then transition to Victorville for engine tests.
Here’s my complete story on ZA004, first flight information on ZA003, and the latest V5.5 software being tested.

Service-ready 787 software tested ahead of TIA
Boeing is testing a service-ready 787 software load as part of its final steps toward the US FAA Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA), clearing the way for the commencement of the aircraft’s formal certification campaign.

Boeing is using ZA004, the fourth flight test aircraft, as a testbed for its latest ‘service-ready’ software load to present a “conforming article” to the FAA to begin flight tests for certification, the company confirms.

Also, I’ll have a complete month three 787 flight test update on (or around) March 15th, along with a “Better Know a Dreamliner” post about ZA003 before first flight on Sunday.

Photo Credit Andrew Sieber

This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.

This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.

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