Boeing Receives FAA Certification for Japan KC-767 Tanker

[BUFF 8]

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today completed

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification requirements for Japan’s

first KC-767 Tanker, receiving the FAA stamp of approval in the form of a

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). "The Japan Air Self-Defense Force asked

us to complete passenger and main deck cargo certifications beyond what is

normally performed on military aircraft, and we have received our FAA STC

for those capabilities," said George Hildebrand, Boeing KC-767 Japan program

manager. "Boeing is ready to deliver the first tankers in Japan’s history

and the most advanced tanker in the world today."

The FAA previously certified the KC-767 for everything except passengers and

main deck cargo. Boeing used a combination of Japan and Italy KC-767 Tankers

to complete the testing, clearing the way for Japan to receive its first two

of four KC-767s with the convertible freighter configuration in the first

quarter of 2008 as planned. The completed tests also will help Boeing obtain

FAA certification for the Italy KC-767 followed by delivery of the country’s

first two tankers later in 2008.

In the past few months, the Japan and Italy tankers have completed several

significant milestones. Boeing successfully completed all required

pre-delivery air refueling tests of Japan’s KC-767 Tanker including night

refueling with an F-15E; completed the second Japan KC-767; flight tested on

the Italy KC-767 a newly designed pylon that attaches the Wing Air Refueling

Pod to each tanker wing; and completed FAA certification for the mission

control system.

Boeing has built nearly 2,000 tankers in its history, and in addition to

flight-testing the KC-767 for international customers, Boeing is offering

the KC-767 Advanced Tanker for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-X Tanker competition.

[DWCAce 19]

Excellent news!

[Viggen 644]

Good news for both Japan and Italy. I've noticed Japan likes the 767. E-767, KC-767, who knows? Maybe they will make an RC-767

[JediMaster 451]

There's a lot of spare parts out there for 767s. That said, I'm not particularly enthused with the idea of the US buying a ton of them as tankers NOW as the replacement plane (787) is gearing up for production. It's the situation with the JSTARS being used 707s all over again writ large.

On the flipside, I don't care for the KC-30 or whatever NorthGrum is pitching it as too much either. We don't need FEWER numbers of a larger airplane! The 135 fleet is stretched as it is and we're already buying fewer to replace them.