#FAA Boeing 787 Inspections

[chainreactionpodcast]

News: FAA Directives, Canadian Rail Strikes, Airline Mergers, Apple Services Growth, EU EV tariffs, Sinking Salt Flats in Chile

Navigating the intricacies of global supply chains is no small feat, and this week’s Chain Reaction podcast does an exceptional job unraveling the complexities involved. From Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives to anticipated rail strikes in Canada, each segment is packed with critical insights that are indispensable for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike. FAA Requires…

[ralfmaximus]

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether Boeing failed to complete required inspections on 787 Dreamliner planes and whether Boeing employees falsified aircraft records, the agency said this week. The investigation was launched after an employee reported the problem to Boeing management, and Boeing informed the FAA.

Countdown to next whistleblower assassination in 3, 2, 1...

[follow-up-news]

The Federal Aviation Administration will require inspections of hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a LATAM Airlines plane in March took a sudden midair plunge that injured at least 50 people. The FAA said in a statement that the plane dived after a seat in the cockpit jolted forward and disconnected the autopilot system, causing a rapid descent. Since the incident, the FAA has received four additional reports of similar issues, the latest in June. The agency identified loose rocker switch caps on the backs of cockpit seats as the cause in three of the incidents. The two other cases remain under investigation. As a result, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive, citing the "unsafe condition" of the seats, and required inspections of 158 U.S.-registered airplanes and 737 airplanes worldwide. The inspections must be completed within 30 days.

[usafphantom2]

Future airworthiness directive must land all B-17s in flight conditions

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 04/20/2023 - 20:00 In Military, Museums

Last Saturday (April 15), the Yankee Air Museum announced that it was landing its vintage World War II Boeing B-17G "Yankee Lady" in anticipation of a FAA Airworthiness Guideline (AD), expected within a few weeks.

Online sources, including a detailed article on Aerovintage.com, anticipate that the directive will likely land all B-17s currently flying due to "winch stringer problems" cited by the Yankee Air Museum.

The Michigan-based museum posted on its Facebook page: “Hello, the Yankee Air Museum decided to proactively cease flight operations of the B-17G Flying Fortress ‘Yankee Lady’. As a result, we expect a mandatory Airworthiness Guideline to be issued by the FAA in the coming weeks on the subject. With great caution, we are temporarily closing our B-17 flight operations and waiting for guidance from the FAA on the necessary inspections and repairs that will be necessary. It is expected that the B-17 will not fly during the 2023 flight season. Note that this only affects the B-17."

The announcement added that those who scheduled "Air Adventure" tours on the "Yankee Lady" will receive refunds and ensured that their B-25, C-47 and Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopters will continue to fly with passengers. A 25-minute tour of the B-17 costs US$ 525 (US$ 425 for museum members), according to the museum's website.

The "Yankee Lady" is one of the few B-17 currently operating in the US. Others include the Commemorative Air Force's "Sentimental Journey" (N9323Z) and the Erickson Aircraft Collection's "Olde Pub" (N3701G). In the United Kingdom there is B-17 "Sally B". According to Wikipedia and other sources, there are currently nine airworthy B-17s worldwide, of the 12,731 manufactured by Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed between 1936 and the end of World War II in 1945.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'s B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" has remained grounded since April 2021 due to problems with its wing stringers, and the next directive is believed to result, at least in part, from what was discovered in efforts to solve these problems.

Source: AVWeb

Tags: B-17FAA - Federal Aviation AdministrationMuseumsWarbirds

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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[nawapon17]

FAA Proposes Inspection Of Boeing 787 Dreamliner Landing Gear

[myweddingsandevents]

Senators grill Boeing CEO on whistleblower retaliation, ‘broken’ safety culture

BY TAYLOR GIORNO - 06/18/24 3:59 PM ET

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Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced bipartisan heat Tuesday as he sat for his first congressional testimony nearly six months after the door plug of a Boeing 737 Max 9 blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Calhoun, who announced in March he was stepping down at the end of the year, sought to assure senators his company was serious about improving its safety and quality practices amid ongoing investigations by the Justice Department and federal regulators.

Two out of every three airplanes flying in the U.S. are Boeing airplanes, Calhoun pointed out, and the planemaker receives billions of dollars from the federal government each year, the lion’s share coming from the Defense Department.

“We’re here because we want Boeing to succeed. Boeing needs to succeed for the sake of the jobs it provides, for the sake of local economies it supports, for the sake of the American traveling public, for the sake of our military,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations that held the hearing.

But Blumenthal’s office released new whistleblower allegations Tuesday morning that the senator said raise concerns about Boeing’s commitment to actually making the promised changes.

Sam Mohawk, a Boeing quality assurance inspector, alleged the company improperly handled faulty parts, that those parts were likely installed on airplanes including the 737 Max, and that the company retaliated against him when he raised concerns.

“The 737 program was losing hundreds of non-conforming parts,” Mohawk said in a staff memo to members of the Senate subcommittee. Mohawk filed a complaint detailing the allegations with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on June 11.

Additional whistleblowers appeared before the Senate subcommittee in April to detail allegations of safety concerns and a culture of silence and corner cutting at the organization. 

Sam Salehpour, another Boeing quality engineer, alleged during that hearing the fuselage pieces of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner were not being fused together properly, which could cause the plane to crack open in midair after an extended period of time.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member on the subcommittee, said he was “disappointed” that major airlines, Boeing’s customers, have declined to testify before the committee to explain their quality and maintenance systems to assure the American public.

Boeing delivered its plan to improve its safety culture and quality assurance and measure improvements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month.

The plan included an additional 300 hours of training, quality inspections and approvals of 737 fuselages before they’re shipped to suppliers and more time for managers to be present on the factory floor.

When Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) asked Calhoun how he planned to foster trust in Boeing’s leadership to cement those changes, Calhoun said the company celebrates “people who give us information that helps our operation” but had “a ways to go, and we have to keep working on that one.”

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) asked Calhoun exactly what he did to earn his $32.8 million annual salary, pointing out the executive’s compensation had skyrocketed 45 percent from 2022 to 2023.

When Hawley pressed Calhoun on why he had not resigned, the embattled CEO said, “I’m sticking this through.”

“I’m proud of every action we’ve taken,” Calhoun added.

“Wow. Well, there’s some news for you,” Hawley said following the heated exchange.

Blumenthal, a former prosecutor, also got “really angry” when Calhoun denied Boeing employees knew about issues with the flight stabilization Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System that led to high-profile, fatal Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019.

“The evidence shows, in fact, that the engineers working on this plane knew that that faulty control system drove the nose down under certain circumstances,” Blumenthal said.

“Lion Air and Ethiopian Air struggled to lift that nose as the plane plummeted toward the sea, and they couldn’t do it because they didn’t know what was happening,” Blumenthal added, referencing the 2018 and 2019 crashes. “And the reason they didn’t know what was happening is because Boeing concealed it. They concealed it from the FAA.”

The Justice Department filed criminal charges against Boeing in 2021 for allegedly conspiring to defraud the U.S., but the prosecution was deferred after Boeing paid a $2.5 billion fine.

Calhoun apologized to the family members of victims who died in the 2018 and 2019 crashes at the top of the hearing.

“I want to personally apologize, on behalf of everyone at Boeing. We are deeply sorry for your losses. Nothing is more important than the safety of the people who step on board our airplanes. Every day, we seek to honor the memory of those lost through a steadfast commitment to safety and quality,” Calhoun said.

The Justice Department said last month that Boeing violated the deferred prosecution agreement “by failing to design, implement, and enforce a compliance and ethics program to prevent and detect violations of the U.S. fraud laws throughout its operations.”

The company pushed back, saying, “We believe that we have honored the terms of that agreement.” Federal prosecutors said they would let the court know how they want to proceed by July 7.TAGS ALASKA AIRLINES BOEING BOEING 737 MAX 9 DAVE CALHOUN DAVE CALHOUN DAVID CALHOUN FAA FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION JUSTICE DEPARTMENT NTSB RICHARD BLUMENTHAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL RON JOHNSON

[hackernewsrobot]

Boeing faces new US investigation into 'missed' 787 inspections

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/07/boeing-us-investigation-787-inspections-faa

[swldx]

BBC 0430 7 May 2024

12095Khz 0358 7 MAY 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55445. English, dead carrier s/on @0358z with ID@0359z pips and Newsday preview. @0401z World News anchored by David Harper. Israel's army has said it has conducted "targeted strikes" against Hamas in eastern Rafah, after rejecting Hamas's agreement to a ceasefire deal. Armed factions in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel in response. Hamas had earlier said it would accept a ceasefire deal drawn up by Egyptian mediators. It was however rejected by Israel as "far from meeting" its "core demands". It is not clear exactly what Hamas has agreed to, but the proposal is thought to include the release of hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians within Gaza. Israel's war cabinet voted to continue operations but is however sending a delegation to indirect talks in Cairo. For the fifth time Vladimir Putin will be taking the long walk through the Grand Kremlin Palace to the St Andrew's Throne Hall. There he will take the oath of office and be sworn in as Russia's president for a new six-year term. Twenty-four years on, the Kremlin leader is waging war against Ukraine; a war in which Russia has suffered heavy losses. At home, instead of developing democracy, President Putin has been curtailing it: jailing critics, removing all checks and balances on his power. A US Army soldier stationed in South Korea has been detained in Russia, the US military says. Staff Sgt Gordon Black is accused of stealing from a woman, reports the BBC's US partner CBS. He was not on official travel when he was held on 2 May in the city of Vladivostok, in Russia's far east. Rescue efforts were underway after three people were killed and dozens remained trapped after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in the South African city of George. Twenty-four people were rescued from the site and sent to hospitals, the municipality of George, a coastal city east of Cape Town, said in a statement on Tuesday. Fifty-one people remained trapped, according to a statement from the municipality of George. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday it was unacceptable for Australian defence personnel to be put at risk in international airspace by the Chinese military as they took part in an operation to enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea. A Chinese fighter jet endangered an Australian military helicopter during an unsafe and unacceptable confrontation over the Yellow Sea, Australia said on Monday. The Chinese air force J-10 jet dropped flares above and several hundred meters ahead of an Australian MH60R Seahawk helicopter on a routine flight on Saturday in the Yellow Sea as part of an operation to enforce sanctions against North Korea, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Monday evening. In a television interview, Albanese said China had not yet responded publicly to Australia's representations over the incident. The US has opened a new inquiry into troubled jet firm Boeing, after the company told air safety regulators that it might not have properly inspected its 787 Dreamliner planes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would look into whether staff had falsified records. It said Boeing was reinspecting all 787 jets still on the manufacturing line. Boeing will be forced to develop an "action plan" to address concerns about planes already in service, it added. @0406z "Newsday" begins. Backyard gutter antenna w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2258.

[pscottm]

The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records | AP News

[enterprisewired]

Korean Air Lines Makes Landmark Aircraft Deal Amidst Fleet Streamlining

Korean Air’s $14 Billion Airbus Order Marks Significant Shift in Supplier Preference

In a groundbreaking move, Korean Air Lines Co. has opted for Airbus SE over its traditional supplier Boeing Co., securing a monumental deal worth $14 billion for 33 Airbus A350 wide-body jets. This strategic decision comes as the Seoul-based carrier prepares to streamline its fleet ahead of its impending merger with Asiana Airlines Inc.

Strategic Shift: Airbus Chosen Over Boeing

The order comprises 27 of Airbus’s flagship A350-1000, along with six A350-900s, effectively bypassing Boeing’s yet-to-be-certified 777X. Bloomberg News had previously hinted at Korean Air’s inclination towards a significant deal with Airbus, projecting an order of at least 20 A350 jets.

Korean Air Lines highlighted the eco-friendly attributes of the A350, emphasizing its alignment with the airline’s sustainability objectives and its role in preparing for the integration of Asiana Airlines. The deal, valued at 18.5 trillion won, underscores Korean Air’s strategic vision and readiness for future aviation dynamics.

Market Dynamics and Fleet Optimization

The surge in demand for larger jets, coupled with bullish projections for travel growth, has fueled the momentum behind wide-body aircraft orders. Korean Air’s move to simplify its fleet and lower costs ahead of its merger with Asiana resonates with broader industry trends, reflecting a strategic approach to fleet optimization amidst evolving market conditions. Regulatory approval in the US is the final hurdle for the merger to proceed.

Airbus Gains Momentum; Boeing Secures Consolation Order

On the same day, Airbus celebrated another triumph as Japan Airlines Co. sealed a deal for 42 aircraft, including 21 A350-900s and 11 A321neos. In contrast, Boeing secured a consolation order of 10 787-9s. The impending merger with Asiana promises Korean Air Lines a substantial influx of modern Airbus jets, complementing its existing fleet and positioning the airline strategically in the market.

Implications for the Aviation Industry

The order signifies a significant milestone for Airbus, particularly as its A350-1000 secures its 10th new operator in the span of 12 months. Notably, Delta Air Lines Inc., a major stakeholder in Korean Air’s parent company Hanjin KAL Corp., has contributed to this series of successful deals. Meanwhile, Boeing faces heightened scrutiny over the safety of its aircraft following recent incidents, underscoring the dynamic landscape of the aviation industry.

As Korean Air Lines embarks on this transformative phase, the industry watches closely, anticipating the ripple effects of this monumental aircraft deal amidst evolving market dynamics and competitive pressures.

Also Read: FAA Recommends Inspections for Boeing 737-900ER Door Plugs Amid Safety Concerns

[anarchywoofwoof]

the FAA is now actually doing it's job and will be investigating Boeing's QC process after a bunch of people nearly died.

“Boeing may have failed to ensure its completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in accordance with quality system inspection and test procedures,” the FAA said in a letter to the Seattle-based company. The announcement marks the first official theory of potential blame related to last week’s high-profile incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines. A door-like panel flew off during a flight, leaving a gaping hole in the plane. The incident terrified passengers and renewed scrutiny of a company that manufactured planes involved in two fatal air crashes in 2018 and 2019.

but do we really need to do this all over?. i mean.. this article is from april 2019:

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — When Boeing broke ground on its new factory near Charleston in 2009, the plant was trumpeted as a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub, building one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. But in the decade since, the factory, which makes the 787 Dreamliner, has been plagued by shoddy production and weak oversight that have threatened to compromise safety. A New York Times review of hundreds of pages of internal emails, corporate documents and federal records, as well as interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees, reveals a culture that often valued production speed over quality. Facing long manufacturing delays, Boeing pushed its work force to quickly turn out Dreamliners, at times ignoring issues raised by employees.

what is the real problem, you ask? i will give you one guess. what does this blog primarily rail against, day in, day out? here's a hint from Le Monde.

the whole article is behind a paywall but the answer is capitalism. capitalism cannot win in a fight against the laws of physics. this is basically the same thing that happened in detroit with the auto manufacturers in the 80s and 90s. too many suits dictating to the engineers what to build and how to build it.

however, the consequences are perhaps a magnitude greater when you're talking about a fucking airplane.

capitalism is great because if you prioritize profit over everything else you can eventually arrive at a place where 100+ people are at risk of being sucked out of a goddamn airplane and killed because a manufacturing team was probably being pushed beyond their capacity due to unrealistic deadlines and because of a competitive internal culture at one of the few major companies responsible for building these vital machines.

[gkdhaka]

Boeing Secures FAA Clearance to Resume 787 Dreamliner Deliveries

Boeing Secures FAA Clearance to Resume 787 Dreamliner Deliveries

Boeing has faced production issues with the 787 for more than two years. Peter Cziborra / REUTERS The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday approved Boeing’s inspection and modification plan to resume deliveries of 787 Dreamliners, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters. The FAA approved Boeing’s proposal that requires specific inspections to verify the condition of the…

[nawapon17]

The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records

[news-hst-pakistan]

U.S. FAA confirms Boeing halts 787 Dreamliner deliveries pending approval of planned inspection method

U.S. FAA confirms Boeing halts 787 Dreamliner deliveries pending approval of planned inspection method

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that Boeing had temporarily halted deliveries of 787 Dreamliners as the agency waits for more data to determine if the planemaker’s planned inspection method meets federal requirements. “Boeing still needs to show that its proposed inspection method would meet FAA’s federal safety regulations. The FAA is waiting for additional data from Boeing…

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/05/boeing-dreamliner-deliveries-face-new-delays

Boeing Dreamliner Deliveries Face New Delays

Boeing Co. BA -1.47% has halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliners, adding fresh delays for customers following a recent five-month suspension in handing over the aircraft due to production problems, people familiar with the matter said.

Federal air-safety regulators have requested more information about Boeing’s proposed solution to address the previously identified quality lapses, these people said.

It wasn’t clear how long the halt might last, these people said. American Airlines Group Inc. AAL -0.78% was slated to receive a new Dreamliner this week, but that delivery isn’t expected until next week at the earliest, one of these people said.

A Boeing spokesman said the company was working in a timely and transparent manner to provide regulators with more information related to undelivered 787s. The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday confirmed that Boeing had halted Dreamliner deliveries, saying that the plane maker needs to demonstrate that its proposed inspection method complies with federal-safety regulations.

The temporary halt could further pressure Boeing’s finances, as customers typically pay the bulk of an aircraft’s price on receipt, and disrupt airlines’ plans as travel demand picks up along with rising Covid-19 vaccinations.

Deliveries are on track to fall short of expectations set by Chief Executive David Calhoun last month, when he told analysts the manufacturer planned to hand over 10 to12 Dreamliners to customers each month.

The FAA launched a review of Boeing’s Dreamliner production last year and has increased scrutiny of its 737 MAX manufacturing operations following earlier factory slip-ups.

Boeing has delivered 12 Dreamliners in the two months since it resumed deliveries of the aircraft on March 26.

Photo: jack guez/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

As part of its Dreamliner scrutiny, the agency has recently requested more information about the plane maker’s proposed method for addressing quality issues using a system that would allow for targeted checks of newly produced aircraft, rather than broader inspections of more areas, people familiar with the matter said. Boeing’s proposed method is based on a statistical analysis of data.

Until Boeing can satisfy the FAA’s requests, the agency is requiring Boeing to perform the broader inspections, which are more time-consuming and labor-intensive, these people said.

Many of the 787 quality lapses involve tiny gaps where sections of the jet’s fuselage, or body of the plane, join together. Problems have emerged in other places, too, including the vertical fin and horizontal stabilizer at the tail. Such gaps could lead to eventual premature fatigue of certain portions of the aircraft, potentially requiring extensive repairs during routine, long-term maintenance.

American Airlines put Boeing’s 737 MAX back in the air with passengers in late December on a flight from Miami to New York. It was the first time in nearly two years that the MAX carried passengers in the U.S. Photo: Marco Bello/Reuters (Video from 12/29/20)

The plane maker has delivered a total of 12 Dreamliners in the two months since it resumed deliveries of the aircraft on March 26, following a five-month halt while it addressed the production lapses, according to aviation data firm Ascend by Cirium. Boeing’s last Dreamliner delivery was on May 4, Cirium data show.

Boeing has reduced output of the Dreamliner to five a month after shuttering assembly at its Everett, Wash., plant near Seattle and focusing production at North Charleston, S.C. It had built up a backlog of around 100 finished planes by the end of April, and had hoped to deliver most of them by the end of the year.

—Doug Cameron contributed to this article.

Write to Andrew Tangel at Andrew.Tangel@wsj.com

Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the May 29, 2021, print edition as ‘Boeing Dreamliner Deliveries Suspended.’