Alenia Composite Technology and the 787 "Dreamliner"

Alenia Composite Technology

Alenia North America Composite Fact Sheet

787 "Dreamliner"

Alenia Composite Technology

Alenia Aeronautica is a leader in the use of composite materials and carbon fiber technologies for both military and civil aerospace applications. The Alenia group has a significant role in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner program, which marks the first application of composite materials to the entire primary structure of a commercial aircraft.

In Italy, the composite materials Center of Excellence are both located in Puglia. The Grottaglie site was created specifically for the revolutionary manufacturing technologies that produce single-piece 787 fuselage barrels. The Foggia plant manufactures the horizontal stabilizer, the single largest monolithic carbon composite structure on the 787.

Alenia North America brings this know-how into the United States through its joint venture, Global Aeronautica, located in North Charleston, South Carolina. This Center of Excellence employs over 400 people and is responsible for the integration and assembly of approximately 60% of the 787 fuselage. At full rate of production, currently scheduled to begin in 2010, this facility will employ upwards of 700 highly skilled tradesmen and women adept at working with carbon composite material.

 Alenia North America Composite Fact Sheet.

Boeing 787 “Dreamliner”

Alenia Aeronautica has a substantial role in the production of the 787. Alenia Aeronautica manufactures the central and rear fuselage sections and the horizontal stabilizer. With the inclusion of the work perform at Global Aeronautica, Alenia Aeronautica accounts for 26% of the aircraft structure. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the most successful aircraft program in commercial aviation history, with 475 orders obtained before its first flight.

To view the Global Aeronautica Backgrounder, please click here.

The 787 Dreamliner Aircraft

Global Aeronautica’s first mid-fuselage section (84-feet in length, 19 feet in diameter) was delivered to Boeing’s final assembly facility in Everett, Washington on May 15, 2007.

Designed as a highly fuel efficient wide body jet liner with significantly lower operating costs, the 787 Dreamliner will provide passengers with unparalleled comfort and access to economical point-to-point service in both overseas and domestic markets. Program launch for the 787 Dreamliner occurred in April 2004 with a record order from All-Nippon Airways for 50 aircraft. Since then, Boeing has won almost 900 orders from 58 customers. The order pace is the fastest for any commercial airplane in aviation history.

For more information about the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner", please click here.