The Boeing 787 Dreamliner Thread

Boeing 787 Doesn’t Face Grounding on Fire, EU Agency Says

Boeing Co. (BA)’s 787 Dreamliner faces no immediate threat of grounding as investigators continue a probe into last week’s fire aboard a plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, Europe’s top aviation safety body said.

“It’s too early to say if the aircraft could be grounded,” Dominique Fouda, a spokesman for the Cologne, Germany-based European Aviation Safety Agency, said in an e-mail. EASA is providing advice to the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch that’s leading the probe into the July 12 incident in London.

Dreamliner operators spanning ANA Holdings Inc. (9202), the jet’s first customer, to Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) have continued regular services as investigators seek to establish the cause of the fire at Heathrow airport. Honeywell International Inc. (HON), maker of an emergency beacon situated close the site of the blaze, said yesterday it was assisting in the inquiry, as are Boeing, U.S. safety experts and Ethiopian Airlines, which continues to operate its three other 787s.

“We are prepared to take action in our area of responsibility in case it is demonstrated that there is an unsafe condition, which is not the case so far,” EASA’s Fouda said. “It is too early to draw any conclusion.”
Batteries Absolved

Boeing is working to revive the reputation of the 787, grounded worldwide earlier this year after lithium-ion batteries overheated on two aircraft. Shares of the manufacturer, which fell more than 7 percent on news of the fire, closed 2.6 percent below the pre-incident level in New York trading yesterday.

Ethiopian has seen no recurrence of the 787 problem in its other planes, the Addis Ababa-based carrier, the second-biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, said today in response to question.

Dreamliners operated by Thomson Airways, which returned a 787 to Manchester last week in an unrelated incident, are also flying as normal, spokeswoman Grace Jones said today.

Aircraft at LOT Polish Airlines SA -- the model’s first European customer -- are likewise being employed according to the planned schedule, spokeswoman Barbara Pijanowska said.

The U.K. AAIB, which is preparing to take the investigation into a sixth day tomorrow, said July 13 that an initial review showed no link between the fire and the earlier grounding.

GS Yuasa Corp. (6674), the Kyoto, Japan-based maker of batteries involved in the prior probe, has not been asked to cooperate, spokesman Hiroharu Nakano said yesterday. Thales SA (HO), which supplied the batteries to Boeing and also provides electrical power conversion technology on the 787, isn’t involved either this time, spokesman Alexandre Perra said in an e-mail.

Boeing had delivered 66 Dreamliners to 11 airlines and a leasing company through June, including six to United. The 787, which has a list price of $206.8 million in its cheapest version, has won 930 firm orders.
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Damn damn damn damn :mad:


:p
 
JAL Dreamliner Flight Forced back to Boston

A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 bound for Tokyo was forced to return to Boston on Thursday due to a possible pump problem, the carrier said, as it dismissed concerns of a new crisis for the plane after a fire in London.

The fuel-efficient Dreamliner aircraft resumed flying after a months-long grounding for serious battery problems, and analysts warn that the mounting list of mishaps could have a psychological impact on wary fliers.

Last Friday, a 787 flown by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire at London's Heathrow airport. No one was aboard the parked plane at the time of the incident.

British authorities have since recommended that distress beacons on board all Boeing Dreamliners be disabled, after identifying the devices as the likely cause of the fire pending further investigation.

The Japan Airlines (JAL) plane left from Boston's Logan Airport at 12:57 pm (1657 GMT) on Thursday, but returned around 6:00 pm.

"As a standard precautionary measure due to a maintenance message (fuel pump) indicator, JL007 bound for Tokyo-Narita decided to return to Boston Logan for check and landed safely," Carol Anderson, a US-based JAL spokeswoman, told AFP in an email.

JAL officials in Tokyo confirmed the maintenance message but dismissed concerns that the return might signal a new problem for the plane.

"We decided to return as a precaution... as a message showing a malfunction of a fuel pump at the right engine appeared in the cockpit," said a JAL spokesman.

Even if the pump was faulty, there was no safety risk as the engine has a back-up mechanism, he said.

"There's no emergency at all in this case. We just wanted to be on the safe side," he said, adding that "this has nothing to do with the battery system".

The US Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot did not declare an emergency as he returned to Boston.

JAL and rival All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Dreamliner's biggest customers, have experienced a growing list of minor complaints with the 787 since it was allowed to resume flying.

Makiko Nakagawa, aviation analyst at Fukoku Capital Management, warned that the mishaps could exacerbate concern among passengers.

"The recent troubles are not significant enough to lead to a major blow such as suspending operations, but the psychological impact is not so small," she told AFP.

"That's partially because media coverage of the Dreamliner has been quite extensive."

JAL shares fell 0.93 percent to 5,320 yen by the morning break Friday, while ANA clawed back earlier losses to finish the session flat at 219 yen, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 index slumped 1.09 percent.

"Although there is nothing that suggests another temporary halt of Dreamliner operations at this point, the series of accidents may yet spark concerns over a possible link," Naoki Fujiwara, fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management, told Dow Jones Newswires.

All 50 Boeing 787s in service were grounded in mid-January after a battery fire on one plane parked at the Boston airport. In a separate incident, smoke from a battery aboard an ANA flight in Japan forced an emergency landing.

After months of investigation, US authorities in April formally approved Boeing's battery fix and Japanese regulators followed suit, allowing the Dreamliner to return to the skies.

The plane's Japanese battery supplier, GS Yuasa, has voiced confidence about the fixed system.

"Similar problems will never happen again," GS Yuasa president Makoto Yoda told the Asahi newspaper in an interview published Thursday.

GS Yuasa shares were down 2.26 percent to 432 yen on Friday morning.


Source : Sapa-AFP /mr
Date : 19 Jul 2013 05:48
 
The Register:
The initial accident report into the Boeing 787 that caught fire at London's Heathrow airport last week has concluded that the fault likely lies with the aircraft's emergency location beacon, and it recommends disconnecting it as an interim measure.

The world's third-busiest airport was shut down for over an hour on Friday after the tail section of the Queen of Sheba, run by Ethiopian Airlines, caught fire on its stand while unoccupied. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report says firemen were at the plane within a minute of the fire being reported and used water to put out the fire after the on-board halon extinguisher proved insufficient.

The investigators found the hottest part of the fire occurred near the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and its associated system wiring. The ELT, manufactured by Honeywell, is a beacon designed to automatically broadcast the aircraft's location after a crash and is powered by lithium-manganese dioxide batteries that differ chemically from those which caused Boeing's previous problems.

The battery cells did show disruption, but the investigators can't determine if this was because of the fire or as a result of battery ignition, or if they suffered a short-circuit in the system's wiring. As a precaution, the AAIB recommends airlines "initiate action for making inert" all ELTs of that design, of which there are 6,000 in circulation, until a safety review has been carried out.

"As a safety-first focused company, we support the AAIB's proposal and will offer assistance to Boeing and the airlines if needed. The investigation continues, and it's premature to jump to conclusions," Honeywell told El Reg in a statement. "Temporarily addressing the ELTs on Boeing 787s as a precautionary measure is prudent."

A Boeing spokesman told The Register that the operation to remove the ELT can be accomplished in an hour by an aircraft engineer and that the beacons are not a requirement for US air travel, although some countries do demand them for flights in their airspace.

"We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity," the company said in a statement.

But some in the industry are expressing concern that the official explanation doesn’t quite add up. Aviation journalist Christine Negroni reports that the Teflon wiring used to save weight (and thus fuel) in the 787 is excessively brittle and engineers warn "Don't look at it too hard or you'll break it."

"Somebody made the decision to use it," Negroni was told of Boeing and the French company Labinal, which specializes in electrical wiring used in the 787. "It will come and bite Boeing on the ass. We have a lot of problems with this airplane because of the wiring."

Negroni also pointed out that the amount of electronics in the aircraft and the composite panels used in the cabin's construction reportedly make it overheat fairly easily. The AAIB report states that the Queen of Sheba was connected to a mains power supply but that power was not switched on at the time.

The AAIB report also said that the ELT beacon should be removed in cargo aircraft, since they "do not typically carry the means of fire detection or suppression in the space above the cabin ceilings." An on-board fire on a transoceanic cargo flight ranks high among a pilot's worst nightmares, Patrick Smith, veteran aviator and author of the Ask the Pilot blog told The Register.

"It remains to be seen what caused the fire," he said. "All aircraft have teething problems but standards are a lot higher than they used to be, but it's a bit of a black eye for Boeing." ®
 
Japan's All Nippon finds Damaged 787 Beacons

Japan's All Nippon Airways has found damage to wiring on two Boeing 787 locator beacons, a device suspected as the cause of a fire on an Ethiopian Airlines 787.

ANA spokesman Ryosei Nomura said Friday that Boeing Co., the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Japanese regulators had ordered checks of the beacons.

ANA has 20 of the jets dubbed the Dreamliner.

The transmitters, made by Honeywell International Inc., guide rescuers to aircraft in emergencies. They may be behind the Ethiopian Airlines fire that occurred July 12 at London's Heathrow Airport.

Dreamliner jets were grounded worldwide in January because of a separate set of problems with lithium ion batteries that caused overheating and fires.

Flights resumed four months later after the battery system was revamped.


Source : Sapa-AP /nsm
Date : 26 Jul 2013 13:22 OrigID : LP275833
 
BA's new Dreamliner takes first flight

ba 787.png

Passengers will take to the skies on British Airways' new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for the first time on Thursday.

An invited group of frequent fliers will board the plane in Edinburgh, fly over the Highlands and Islands and return to the Scottish capital.

The aircraft, flying north from its base in Manston, Kent, will also land at Newcastle for a short time on its way to Scotland.

Simon Scholey, BA's chief technical pilot who will be on the flight deck, said: "Serving the people of Scotland is enormously important for British Airways so it seemed right that the first-ever customer flight will take place here.

"We're very much looking forward to showcasing it to the people both on board and on the ground."

Dreamliner jets were grounded worldwide in January because of problems with lithium-ion batteries that overheated or caught fire. Flights resumed four months later after a revamped battery system was installed in the planes.

The airline's 787 promises lower cabin noise, better air quality for passengers and extra comfort during any turbulence.
 
Nice Photo, it's amazing how those wings bend, almost like they are not enough to hold it up!
 
Garyvdh said:
Nice Photo, it's amazing how those wings bend, almost like they are not enough to hold it up!
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Ja. Was on a Kulula flight to Cape Town in April. Had a extremely rough ascend from Joburg .... I was sitting on the wing by the engine .... engines were whining and the wings were bouncing up and down . It was amazing and pants k@kking moment. It is amazing and scary to see. Looks like one more bounce and the wing gonna surely snap off!

I think that photo is a rendered one though....but those wings do really bend like that.
 
Ockie said:
Ja. Was on a Kulula flight to Cape Town in April. Had a extremely rough ascend from Joburg .... I was sitting on the wing by the engine .... engines were whining and the wings were bouncing up and down . It was amazing and pants k@kking moment. It is amazing and scary to see. Looks like one more bounce and the wing gonna surely snap off!

I think that photo is a rendered one though....but those wings do really bend like that.
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When I flew to Israel in 2000, via Istanbul, our descent into Tel Aviv was rather rough. Was sitting just behind the wing in a window seat, and was watching how it flexed up and down during our descent. Figured not much I can do if it did break, so didn't worrry about it. Since then have learnt that they are designed to do that, so didn't really have anything to worry about in the first place. Ofc, one woman diagonally across the aisle from me was just about tearing out her armrests!

B
 
Bismuth said:
When I flew to Israel in 2000, via Istanbul, our descent into Tel Aviv was rather rough. Was sitting just behind the wing in a window seat, and was watching how it flexed up and down during our descent. Figured not much I can do if it did break, so didn't worrry about it. Since then have learnt that they are designed to do that, so didn't really have anything to worry about in the first place. Ofc, one woman diagonally across the aisle from me was just about tearing out her armrests!

B
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Indeed. In fact...if they were not.designed to flex like that with the load and stress they would snap crackle and pop
 
Norwegian Airlines hit by new Dreamliner breakdown

The budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said one of its two Boeing 787 Dreamliners was grounded Friday, just two days after a crisis meeting with the manufacturers.

The Stockholm-bound aircraft, due to take off from Bangkok at 0200 GMT, had to be cancelled and passengers were booked on other airlines because of a faulty hydraulic pump, Norwegian spokeswoman Astrid Mannion told AFP.

Early on Friday afternoon it was unclear when the plane would be back in operation.

Since their delivery the aircraft have had a series of technical hitches.

The latest incident comes just two days after a meeting between Norwegian's chief executive Bjoern Kjos and Boeing management aimed at finding a solution.

At the meeting Boeing agreed to send a team of technicians to Norwegian's Oslo base and provide spare parts in all airports where the airline operates Dreamliners in order to speed up repairs.

"It will take some time" before these measures take effect, said Astrid Mannion.

Since Norwegian began long haul services in the summer the airline has had delays on half of the flights, mainly due to technical problems ranging from oxygen supply in cockpits to faulty hydraulic pumps and braking systems.

The incidents have taken a toll -- not only on the company's financial results, share value and image -- but also on Boeing, which has invested much of its prestige in the Dreamliner.

The planes have also been hit by problems worldwide -- most notably faulty batteries -- which took the entire fleet out of operation for four months in early 2013.

Norwegian, which has contracted Boeing to maintain its Dreamliners, has not ruled out suing for damages in the future.

The budget airline has ordered a total of eight Dreamliners through leasing and purchase, with the remaining six due for delivery between late November 2013 and early 2015.


Source : Sapa-AFP /mjs
Date : 27 Sep 2013 15:40
 
A body panel fell off a Boeing (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India

(Reuters) - A body panel fell off a Boeing (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India AIRID.UL as it came into land on Saturday, the latest glitch for the high-tech jet that has suffered a string of mishaps since its introduction two years ago.

The eight feet by four feet piece of fuselage fell from the underside of the jet and landed within the perimeter at India's Bangalore airport, officials said.

The pilots of the plane, carrying 148 passengers and crew from Delhi to Bangalore, did not realize the panel was missing until the flight landed, The Times of India reported.

A photo on the newspaper's website showed a large opening in the belly of the plane with components and aircraft structure visible inside.

"It was the mid-underwing-to-body fairing located on the belly of the airplane on the right side," said Boeing spokesman Doug Alder. The part "provides a more aerodynamic surface in flight."

Boeing and Air India said there was no risk to the safety of passengers.

An Air India spokesman said the panel had been sent for examination and the Boeing spokesman said the planemaker was working to understand what caused the panel to detach.

He declined to say whether the plane was made at Boeing's South Carolina factory which has built a number of Air India's jets.

The panel was replaced with one taken from another 787 Dreamliner, the Air India spokesman said. He said eight Dreamliners operated by Air India are in service and a ninth should start flying "anytime now".

"From the safety point of view, there is no hazard at all," the spokesman said. He said authorities were investigating the incident.

Problems that have afflicted the 787 include battery overheating that prompted regulators to ground the entire fleet in January. Flights resumed in April.

Scandinavian operator Norwegian Air has also criticized the plane's reliability.

Despite the problems, Boeing's stock has stayed near record levels. It closed Tuesday at $118.18, down $1.28.

(Reporting by Alwyn Scott and Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and David Cowell)
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/16/us-boeing-dreamliner-idUSBRE99F0J420131016

OH my hat! lol. Glad it was not a serious incident. Also good it did not happen somewhere over a city and dondered somone bewusteloos on the ground :wtf:
 
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flight Hit By Snag, Air India’s New Delhi-Bound Flight Returns

AIN_takeoff.jpg


Flight 311, a New Delhi-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight operated by India’s national carrier, Air India, returned to Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport where it had originated from, shortly after takeoff on Sunday night due to a technical error, in the latest instance of technical problems that have dogged Boeing's pioneering airplane since its launch two years ago.

Technical Glitch Hits Air India’s Dreamliner Flight
A Boeing 787 in Air India livery on the runway. Boeing
The glitch was fixed at the Melbourne Airport and the flight finally left for Delhi on its 12-plus-hour non-stop flight on Monday morning, Madhu Mathen, an Air India official in Melbourne said, according to Press Trust of India. There were no details available about the exact cause of the problem.

“The passengers were accommodated in hotels and later brought back to board the flight which was this morning,” Mathen said.

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) has been beset with technical problems concerning the Dreamliner 787 aircraft since it first flew commercially in October 2011. None of the recent problems are linked to the jetliner’s lithium-ion batteries that overheated and prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, to temporarily cancel 787 services worldwide in January for four months.

Boeing redesigned the battery system, which won FAA approval, before worldwide Dreamliner operators resumed flights in the second quarter.
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http://www.ibtimes.com/boeing-787-d...elhi-bound-flight-returns-melbourne-australia
 
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