Fastener Shortage Holding Back 787

Fastener Shortage Holding Back 787 A shortage of fasteners that hold a commercial jetliner together is one of the reasons The Boeing Co.'s new 787 Dreamliner remains in the Everett factory more than two months after the plane was officially unveiled to the public July 8. Boeing hoped the 787 would be flying by now as part of a test-flight program that must be successfully completed before the Federal Aviation Administration certifies the plane to carry passengers. Instead, that first flight won't happen until at least mid-November and could be further delayed until mid-December -- a development that seriously threatens Boeing's schedule to deliver the first 787 on time in May to All Nippon Airways of Japan.