E&M in action
Construction supervision Boeing 787 (PH-BKO)
As many of you know, our colleague Edwin Koslovs is the KLM ‘tech rep’ in the Boeing factories. He keeps an eye on the construction and delivery of, among other things, the new 787 aircraft that KLM or a customer has ordered. E&M colleague Richard Kloet, Ground Engineer Wide Body AOG team, is currently in Charleston, South Carolina. From there, he provides us with a peek behind the scenes during construction of one of KLM’s last five Boeing 787-10s, bearing registration number PH-BKO.
“During construction supervision, together with Edwin I bear responsibility for carrying out inspections throughout the process. It’s a fascinating experience to see how an aircraft is created step by step. The construction process in four stages The construction process at Boeing’s factory is divided into four phases, each with its own specific tasks and responsibilities. P0: Receipt of parts The fuselage parts and wings arrive during this phase, along with the other basic parts for the aircraft. P1: Assembly of fuselage parts and wings This is when the fuselage parts and wings are connected and the aircraft undercarriage is assembled. During this phase, the aircraft’s basic structure is built. P2: Installation of interior and flight controls Next, during this phase, the interior is assembled and the flight controls are connected and adjusted. P3: Engines and preparation for rollout During this final factory phase, the engines are installed and the aircraft is prepared further for rollout. Rollout involves towing the aircraft outside and moving it to the hangar for its KLM livery. The aircraft is then prepared for the test flights. It’s truly amazing to see the production process up close. Although I’ve described the main phases, the Boeing team carries out a great deal more detailed tasks to ensure that each aircraft meets the highest standards.
An unexpected interruption Construction ground to a halt for just under a day and a half because the Boeing factory shut down due to Hurricane Debby. Fortunately, it was not too bad; it did rain a lot, causing flooding in some places. Otherwise, we weren’t affected and could quickly resume work. All in all, it was an amazing experience to join the team and experience the construction process of the Boeing 787-10 (PH-BKO) so closely.” PH-BKO arrival Construction of the Boeing 787-10 (PH-BKO) will continue steadily for some time, roughly spanning a 10-week period. If everything goes according to plan, the aircraft will fly to Schiphol in October.