CRI听力:Boeing 787-Singapore Airshow

Boeing's latest 787 Dreamliner is making its Singapore debut at the 2012 Singapore Air show this week.

Boeing's Dreamliner has been dogged by several production delays with the latest one caused by a shimming or sealing problem with the 787 fuselages. Shims are used to close tiny gaps in joints.

At a previous Dreamliner media preview in Singapore, Mark Jenks, Boeing's Vice President of 787 Development told reporters that the problem was a straight-forward manufacturing issue that has now been solved.

"it's a pretty straight forward issue, a manufacturing issue, so it's been fixed upstream on any of the other airplanes we are building now. And we are in the process of inspecting of some of the other airplanes. And if they require any work, we can do it fairly quickly, so it really shouldn't have any effect on our production ramp up."

According to Boeing, the 787 Dreamliner has several unique features that will please both airlines and passengers.

Recognizable for its raked wing-tips, the plane cuts fuel consumption by 20 percent and lowers operating costs by 30 percent.

Jenks says for many airlines, the 787 could be a game-changer, which would allow more flexible route services.

"Well, I think it has a number of things. For the airline customer got just fantastic performance. So low fuel burn, pay load range, it can connect many cities point to point, you wouldn't otherwise be able to connect. So for the airlines, it really is a game changer in terms of their operation, and for the passengers, When you first walk in, the spaciousness of the cabin, and the unique LED lighting, the very large windows, thirty to fifty per cent larger, larger than the windows on the A380. So it really gives you a very different feel."

Jenks also mentions other features not visible on the plane such as lower cabin pressure and higher humidity - which could help reduce jet lag during long flights.

The first Dreamliner version, the 787-8, carries between 210-250 passengers. Boeing plans to deliver the 787-9, which is longer and carries between 250 and 290 passengers, by early 2014.

So far Boeing has received orders for 870 Dreamliners from 59 airlines around the world.

Boeing is currently studying a possible 787-10, which would be even bigger than the 787-9.