Boeing received FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification today for the new 747-8F Freighter. The FAA granted Boeing an Amended Type Certificate (ATC) and an Amended Production Certificate, while the EASA also granted the company an ATC for the airplane. Certification of the 747-8F paves the way for first delivery to launch customer Cargolux early next month.  

≥This is such a great day for everyone on the 747 team,≤ said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO, 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 model logged more than 3,400 hours of flight testing and ≥many thousands≤ more of ground, part, component, materials and other testing during its journey to certification.

Boeing expects the passenger version of the 747-8, known as the Intercontinental, to gain its certification by the end of the year, before first delivery of a VIP-configured airplane by year-end and to airline launch customer Lufthansa early next year.

So far Boeing has collected firm orders for 134 of the quadjets, including 56 Intercontinentals.