News
Boeing halts deliveries of 787 Dreamliners
Jan. 22, 2013, Chicago, Il. - Boeing has announced that it has suspended planned deliveries of its 787 Dreamliners until all battery issues have been resolved.
January 22, 2013 By aerospace-technology.com
Despite the problems, the company stated that it would be continuing with production of the aircraft.
This announcement comes after all 50 787s in service worldwide were grounded following a global alert issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA issued the alert after battery problems caused Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) jet to make an emergency landing. It has ordered a comprehensive review of the design and manufacture of the aircraft.
A Boeing spokesman said the company would not deliver 787s until the FAA approves a means of compliance with their recent Airworthiness Directive concerning batteries and the approved approach has been implemented.
"Production of 787s continues," he said.
Boeing chairman and chief executive Jim McNerney added: "We have high confidence in the safety of the 787 and stand squarely behind its integrity as the newest addition to our product family."
Currently, officials from both the FAA and Boeing are investigating the All Nippon Airways 787 to determine the reason behind its emergency landing.
Dreamliner has been affected by several safety incidents this year, including a crack in the window on the pilot's side of the cockpit, an oil leak from a generator inside an engine, a brake problem, spillage of fuel, and an electrical problem that led to fire onboard an aircraft.
The 787s had been flying in Chile, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Poland, Qatar and the U.S. until their flights were halted by the FAA.
Since its entry into service in October 2011, 787s have completed 18,000 flights and 50,000 flight hours with no serious issues, McNerney added.
ANA, Japan Airlines, United Airlines in the US, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, Chile's LAN Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Qatar Airways have all received the Dreamliner after a three-year delay in the production due to supplier issues.
Made primarily of carbon composites, the lighter weight 787 features improved aerodynamics and advanced engine technology, and according to Boeing, it uses 20 per cent less fuel compared with rival aircraft in the segment.
To date, Boeing has delivered 50 Dreamliner aircraft and has received around 800 firm orders.
