Boeing Says Dreamliner On Track, Despite Glitches

The inaugural flight of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner jet remains on track for this fall, but mechanical glitches are making the production schedule tighter than the company would like, the Seattle Times reports. Delays, mis-drilled holes, and ill-trained workers have contributed to the thinning cushion Boeing allowed for itself to meet the fall deadline. The jet promises to save 20% on fuel while improving cargo space and passenger comfort.

Last week the Boeing factory in Charleston, SC, shut down temporarily for training after the FAA deemed its employees not up to to snuff. Meanwhile, the jet’s braking system still lacks certification for its software component. Dreamliner program chief Pat Shanahan described the troubleshooting process as "a great game of whack-a-mole." (More Boeing 787 Dreamliner stories.)