dreamliner

Boeing says cracks in the skins of its older 737s have appeared sooner than expected. The aerospace company reported that the planes require detailed inspections of their skins after 30,000 flights -- not the 60,000 specified in earlier maintenance guidelines.

They may not make headlines, but the folks on this list of key corporate execs will likely have an outsize impact across all sectors of American business in 2011 -- from TV and household products to fast food and social networking.

A recent fire on a test Boeing 787 Dreamliner was caused by a problematic electrical system.

After seven missed delivery deadlines for Boeing's troublesome 787 Dreamliner, the company has run into another setback: In a test flight Tuesday, the electrical-equipment bay caught fire. Can the company turn the development nightmares into a happy ending?

The airplane maker beat expectations thanks to strong commercial aircraft sales in the third quarter. Boeing also boosted its full-year outlook, sending its shares flying more than 2% higher.

Given the latest production delay at Boeing, this time on the 747-8, the board should finally slide CEO Jim McNerney out the emergency exit. Ford CEO Alan Mulally looks like the perfect fit, especially because of his successful earlier career at Boeing.

The long-awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be ready for service early next year. Rolls-Royce, which supplies some of the engines used in the 787 Dreamliner, will meet with Boeing (BA) this week to work out plans to recover from an engine blow-out last month, Bloomberg News said. Sponsored...

Crews are working to replace a Rolls-Royce engine in one of Boeing's (BA) five 787 Dreamliner test jets after the engine experienced a power surge before takeoff. It's not yet clear if the 787's test schedule will be affected, Yvonne Leach, a spokeswoman for Boeing, told Bloomberg News. "We'll...

The already-delayed launch of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner will now be further delayed. In a statement late Thursday, Boeing said it has "elected" to inspect the planes due to "workmanship issue with the 787's horizontal stabilizers."

The airplane maker and defense contractor still expects to deliver the first of its new 787s by the end of this year following numerous delays. And it's facing yet another twist in the endless Air Force tanker bidding.