Government agencies initiate inspections on Boeing's Dreamliner 787 models.
Boeing encounters fresh obstacles with two of its models. In one situation, the firm is obligated to reevaluate pilot seats on a retroactive basis due to regulatory decrees. In another instance, test flights have been halted due to complications with a component.
American aeronautics corporation Boeing continues to grapple with hurdles. The enterprise has halted test flights of the repeatedly postponed 777X version, as a result of damage to a link connecting the engine to the wing. Throughout a routine inspection, they discovered that a component was not functioning as anticipated, the company claimed. Meanwhile, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered evaluations of almost 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The FAA cautioned that unintentional sideways movement of an occupied pilot seat could cause the plane to rapidly descend, potentially resulting in significant injuries to passengers and crew.
The directive stemmed from an incident in March, where a Latam Airlines aircraft unexpectedly climbed at an alarming rate, injuring over 50 passengers. The FAA attributed the steep descent to uncontrolled seat shift, which prompted the disconnection of the autopilot. The agency has received a total of five reports of comparable issues with captain and first officer seats in 787 aircraft, with the most recent incident occurring in June. Two of these cases are currently under examination.
The FAA's advisory impacts 158 aircraft registered in the USA and 737 aircraft globally. It mandates airlines to inspect the pilot seats of the 787-7, 787-9, and 787-10 models for missing or damaged push-buttons or damaged switch coverings within 30 days, and replaces them if necessary.
FAA made aware of test plane hiccup
Meanwhile, industry website "The Air Current" reported that a component connecting the engine to the wing on a 777-9 test plane failed. Preceding this, the plane had completed a five-hour flight from Hawaii. Cracks associated with that same component were discovered in other 777-9 test planes, according to informed sources.
Boeing did not comment on these particulars but acknowledged that further planned test flights with other test planes in the immediate future would not take place. The affected component is only utilized in the 777-9. The FAA confirmed that Boeing reported the incident following a 777-9 test flight the preceding week.
Boeing unveiled the 777X as a successor to the widely utilized 777 model in 2013, with an initial planned introduction to service in 2020. The company has since deferred the schedule to 2025. The 777-9 is engineered as a more substantial form of the aircraft. Boeing is also in anticipation of certification for new variants of its mid-range jet, the 737 Max.
The FAA has expanded its investigation to include examinations of pilot seats on various 787 models, not just in the USA, but globally. Besides the 787 Dreamliner, other Boeing aircraft may also be affected by this issue.
Boeing's ongoing struggles extend beyond the 777X, as a component connecting the engine to the wing on a 777-9 test plane has experienced issues, potentially affecting future test flights.
