On the Radar: 787 delivery, Palestinian statehood, Washington Monument
A 787 painted in ANA colors lands in Japan after a July test flight.
September 26th, 2011
06:01 AM ET

On the Radar: 787 delivery, Palestinian statehood, Washington Monument

Three things you need to know today

ANA Dreamliner: Boeing delivers its first 787 Dreamliner today, handing over the airliner to All Nippon Airways at a ceremony at Boeing's facility in Everett, Washington.

You can follow the events live on Boeing's website beginning at noon ET, 9 a.m. Pacific.

The plane is the first commercial airliner to be made mostly of carbon composites or super durable plastic. Those materials mean a lighter plane that Boeing says could use 20% less fuel than conventional airliners, making way for a more environmentally-friendly and cost effective aircraft option for airlines.

So far, according to Boeing, the manufacturer has more than 800 orders for the 787 Dreamliner, which has a list price of about $200 million each.

The interior of the plane also sports a variety of upgrades. Gone are traditional plane window shades. Instead, a button on the window allows passengers to gradually darken their surroundings.

All Nippon Airways has ordered 55 Dreamliners.

Palestinian statehood: The historic Palestinian bid for statehood goes before the United Nations Security Council Monday, where it looks set for a largely symbolic debate in the face of a promised American veto.

Lebanon's Nawaf Salam, the Security Council president for this month, said he circulated the letter of application to all 15 members of the Security Council last week.

While a U.S. veto would block the bid for full U.N. membership, the General Assembly could still vote to upgrade the status of Palestinians, who currently hold the status of non-voting observer "entity."

The body could change that status to permanent observer "state," identical to the Vatican's standing at the United Nations.

Washington Monument: National Park Service officials will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to offer details on damaged sustained by the Washington Monument during the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the East Coast on August 23.

The service has been working with an engineering firm to determine the extent of the damage and what it will cost to fix it.

The monument has been closed to the public since the earthquake.

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Filed under: Air travel • Aviation • District of Columbia • Earthquake • Natural Disasters • On the Radar • Palestinians • Travel • U.S. • Washington state
soundoff (81 Responses)
  1. styymy

    If they didn't think to add legroom in the seats and people are still packed in like sardines, I"LL PASS on flying in this.

    September 26, 2011 at 10:11 am | Report abuse |
    • Joe

      That's not Boeing's decision, though. The airlines set up the interiors themselves. They make the decisions regarding seat pitch and legroom. Don't blame the airline manufacturers.

      September 26, 2011 at 10:31 am | Report abuse |
    • ed

      Joe is right on. I see these 787's daily. The airplane is really a marvel if you sit down and see what makes it different.

      September 26, 2011 at 11:06 am | Report abuse |
  2. Joseph

    This jet will fly at the same speed as every jet in the last 50 years. Flight times are no better today than then. As far as I'm concerned there is NO improvement, no benefit to the business traveler, just a little more money for the airline.

    September 26, 2011 at 10:19 am | Report abuse |
    • Craig

      Of course the plane isnt supersonic....nor was that the goal. The goal was to improve the experience for everyone aboard, all the while saving on fuel costs. If you read any of the details on what makes the 787 different, granted not that much is detailed in this article, you'll see that there is benefit for every type of traveler.

      For example, the plane will be pressurized to a more comfortable level, better circulation systems so it doesnt smell like someone's indigestion, numerous biometric features like better lighting, and so on and so forth.

      No plane can overcome the shortcomings of our ATC system.....

      September 26, 2011 at 11:13 am | Report abuse |
  3. areodude

    The picture make the plane look like it's smoking - nice.

    September 26, 2011 at 10:26 am | Report abuse |
  4. John

    I came here to see what people in the aviation field got to say and instead it seems every subject is now politicized. There could be an article about passing gas and the blog would be something like this:

    blogger1: Well, if only the tea party members could pass less gas our problems will be solved!
    blogger2: Obama holds it too long...all Kenyans do!!
    blogger3 (the atheist blogger): The big bang theory is all based on "god" letting one really rip!!!
    blogger4: Moooslems.....

    NICE AIRLINER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    September 26, 2011 at 10:30 am | Report abuse |
  5. Paul

    There was LOTS of new technology in this plane. It was far from the same old, same old of most planes. We were inventing and testing as we went along so the time lines got way off from where everyone wanted them to be. In this mode, not everything works as desired or expected the first time around. I was part of the brake team for one of the 2 wheel & brake companies on the plane.

    September 26, 2011 at 10:41 am | Report abuse |
  6. Preston

    What does this airliner have to do with the Obama administration? Seriously, do people have nothing better on their minds these days?

    September 26, 2011 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
    • Dean

      Boeing wants to open a manufacturing plant in South Carolina which is a right to work state. The Unions with a little help from the Obama administration are trying to stop this from happening. If they do stop the plant in South Carolina it would not surprise the world if Boeing followed the popular course for businesses today and built the plant outside of the United States and we could losesa couple of more jobs because of government interference.

      September 26, 2011 at 11:04 am | Report abuse |
    • ed

      Dean: The plant is basically open I have a friend who just xferred to SC from here in Seattle for the 787 project. People really need to re-think Unions when they want to essentially force free company to stop building a product in another state. Keep in mind, Boeing corporate is no longer based in Seattle, it's based in Chicago, so Seattle really has no hold on them and the union even less so. In regards to the plane, it is really neat and the design will have you shaking your head when you see it in person. It looks like no other big jet in the world. It is also whisper quiet when landing, you think they have cut the engines. Amazing plane.

      September 26, 2011 at 11:31 am | Report abuse |
  7. Lord Vader

    $200,000,000 each? I wonder how much of company profits and salaries of employees goes to the fat greedy unions!

    September 26, 2011 at 11:11 am | Report abuse |
  8. The Chief

    What is: ANA Dreamliner Did CNN mean "AKA Dreamliner"?

    September 26, 2011 at 12:02 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ken

      No, ANA is "All Nippon Airways"

      September 26, 2011 at 12:07 pm | Report abuse |
    • Rod in Texas

      All Nippon Airways

      September 26, 2011 at 12:13 pm | Report abuse |
  9. justathought

    @Dean I have thought the same, there seems to be a lot of things in these posts that were not mentioned in the blog, I'll have to forgive dogcatcher and his nonesense, he justs wants some attention.

    September 26, 2011 at 2:02 pm | Report abuse |
  10. vbscript2

    "Leave governing, and voting, to those who have a greater understanding of how the world really works."

    But, if we did that, there would be no Democrats in office. On second thought, that actually sounds like a good idea.

    September 29, 2011 at 12:17 pm | Report abuse |
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