EVERETT, Wash. - Boeing has again delayed the first test flight of its long-awaited 787 jetliner, saying it needs to reinforce part of the aircraft.

Boeing

The second Boeing 787 Dreamliner is moved to the flight line for fuel testing in Everett, Wash. June 15, 2009.

According to a Boeing press release, the reinforcement problem was discovered within the side-of-body section of the aircraft during regular tests on the full-scale static test airplane.

Boeing said preliminary analysis showed the flight test could take place as planned but after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, the decision was made late last week that the first flight be postponed until productive flight testing could occur.

"Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled, but we ultimately concluded that the right thing was to develop, design, test and incorporate a permanent modification to the localized area requiring reinforcement," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing's Commercial Airplane division, in the statement. "Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes, and this is not an issue related to our choice of materials or the assembly and installation work of our team,"

Carson said the team of expers has already identified several potential solutions.

The flight initially had been planned for late 2007, but production problems and a labor strike have prompted several delays. Boeing Co. says it will not announce the new schedule for several weeks.

The 787 is Boeing's first new aircraft since the 777, which was introduced more than a decade ago. The new plane is built for fuel efficiency with lightweight carbon composite parts.