The tests are expected to start mid-year.

“Unlike static tests, where loads are applied to the airplane structure to simulate both normal operation and extreme flight conditions, fatigue testing is a much longer process that simulates up to three times the number of flight cycles an airplane is likely to experience during a lifetime of service,” explains Scott Fancher, 787 vice president and general manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This testing is instrumental in confirming the longevity of the airplane.”