The first Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner to undergo change incorporation work in San Antonio, Texas, returned to Everett on Nov. 13. The airplane completed an eight month change incorporation program and will now go through final preparations in Everett before delivery to Japan Airlines (JAL).

"We are making steady progress on our 787 change incorporation work statement," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "The Boeing San Antonio team has been a great partner. We appreciate their commitment to quality as we prepare these airplanes for delivery to our customers."

During change incorporation, airplanes that are not part of flight test are configured to conform with the standards established by the type certification. Some of the work done in San Antonio includes installing electronic and mechanical equipment, completing software upgrades, testing functional systems, and removing and reworking wiring or equipment that needs to be updated to current configuration requirements.

The current plan is for a total of six Dreamliners to complete change incorporation and refurbishment in San Antonio. Three will complete change incorporation and three airplanes will be refurbished after flight test is complete. However, the plan is flexible and could accommodate additional 787 production needs as flight test is completed and airplanes are prepared for delivery. The work will be performed through 2013.