Boeing resumes Dreamliner flight testing

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Boeing says it has resumed flight testing of its 787 Dreamliners -- six weeks after an electrical fire and power failure forced suspension of the tests.

As flight testing of the twin-engine, wide-bodied jets resumed Thursday, the company said a new delivery schedule would probably be announced next month, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Industry analysts are expecting the first Dreamliner delivery to customer All Nippon Airways Co. to occur no earlier than mid-2011, more than three years behind the original delivery date.

Despite a series of delays, and more than $5 billion analysts estimate Boeing has paid out to waiting customers in penalties and concessions as a result of the delays, Boeing still has 846 orders for the aircraft.

Flight testing was suspended when Dreamliner No. 2 had a fire in a major electrical panel Nov. 2, forcing the crew to land at Laredo, Texas, using backup instruments.

Boeing declined to provide projected end dates for the Dreamliner tests.