Boeing has received United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the new 747-8 Freighter.

The news sees the new aircraft pass two of the final landmarks on its journey into service.

The FAA granted Boeing an Amended Type Certificate (ATC) and an Amended Production Certificate for the 747-8 Freighter, while the EASA also granted the company an ATC for the airplane.

With these certificates, the program is in the final stages of preparing to deliver the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux in early September.

[stock]BA|1m|left|Boeing buoyed by 747-8 clearance[/stock]

“This is such a great day for everyone on the 747 team,” said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Over the last several years, this team has overcome challenge after challenge. Through their hard work and dedication, they have ensured that the 747, the Queen of the Skies, will fly for decades to come.”

The drive to certify the 747-8 Freighter was a team effort, said Elizabeth Lund, vice president and general manager, 747 Program.

“This is a day to express our profound thanks to everyone at Boeing and at our suppliers who played a part in designing, building and testing this airplane,” she said.

Safety Certificates

The Amended Type Certificate acknowledges that the FAA and EASA have certified that the design of the 747-8 Freighter is compliant with all aviation regulatory requirements and will produce a safe and reliable airplane.

The airplane logged more than 3,400 hours of flight testing and many thousands more of ground, part, component, materials and other testing on the road to certification.

The Amended Production Certificate shows the FAA has validated that the Boeing 747 production system can reliably produce airplanes that will conform to the airplane’s design. EASA accepts FAA oversight of Boeing production certificates as sufficient for its regulations, as FAA accepts EASA oversight of European manufacturers’ production certificates.

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