Category Archives: Boeing

FAA orders U.S. airlines to ground all 787 Dreamliners

Jan. 16, 20135:40 p.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered U.S. airlines to ground their fleet of 787 Dreamliners until the agency is assured that the batteries are safe.

The directive follows two incidents involving the aircraft’s lithium ion battery this week.

United Airlines is the only U.S. airline to operate 787s. It has six.

The agency said it will work with Boeing and U.S. carriers to develop a plan to restore operations as “quickly and safely as possible.”

After an emergency landing in Japan, two Japanese airlines voluntarily grounded their fleets of 787s.

Here’s the FAA statement:

“As a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident earlier today in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations.  Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe.

“The FAA will work with the manufacturer and carriers to develop a corrective action plan to allow the U.S. 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible.The in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013. The AD is prompted by this second incident involving a lithium ion battery.

“The battery failures resulted in release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke on two Model 787 airplanes. The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment.Last Friday, the FAA announced a comprehensive review of the 787’s critical systems with the possibility of further action pending new data and information.

“In addition to the continuing review of the aircraft’s design, manufacture and assembly, the agency also will validate that 787 batteries and the battery system on the aircraft are in compliance with the special condition the agency issued as part of the aircraft’s certification.

“United Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline operating the 787, with six airplanes in service. When the FAA issues an airworthiness directive, it also alerts the international aviation community to the action so other civil aviation authorities can take parallel action to cover the fleets operating in their own countries.”

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing | Comments Off

Boeing completes first 777 built at increased production rates

Jan. 10, 201311:02 a.m.

Boeing has rolled out the first 777 airliner built at the increased production rate of 8.3 planes per month, the company said Thursday.

The plane, a freighter, will be delivered to Korean Air in February.

Increased production began in October when the first parts entered Boeing’s Everett, Wash., plant, it said.

Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita produces parts of the 777 and has increased production to meet Boeing’s increased rates.

In the last 31 months, Boeing has increased 777 production twice — from five to seven plans per month in 2011, and now to a record high of 8.3 per month, the company said.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments Off

Boeing 737 MAX orders top 1,000 with new order for 60

Jan. 2, 201311:15 a.m.

Aviation Capital Group has placed an order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX airliners, worth $6 billion at list prices, Boeing announced Wednesday.

The order includes 50 77 MAX8s and 10 737 MAX9s.

It was finalized in December, Boeing announced.

The company now has 1,029 orders from airlines and leasing companies for the single-aisle upgraded 737, which will have new engines.

Spirit AeroSystems will build the fuselage for the 737 MAX in Wichita.

 

 

 

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Boeing Dreamliner makes emergency landing; FAA issues directives for inspections

Dec. 5, 201211:00 a.m.

The Federal Aviation Association issued an airworthiness directive Wednesday requiring inspections of fuel line connectors on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

The FAA issued the directive after receiving reports of fuel leaks on two in-service 787 and the discovery of several improperly assembled engine fuel feed manifold couplings on in-service and production airplanes, it said in the directive.

“These conditions, if not corrected, could result in fuel leaks, which could lead to fuel exhaustion, engine power loss or shutdown, or leaks on hot engine parts that could lead to a fire,” the directive said.

Cowen and Co. analyst Cai von Rumohr noted in a report that 787 customers have already voluntarily completed the inspections on about half of the aircraft delivered.

On Tuesday,  a United Airlines’ flight bound for Newark, N.J., from Houston made an emergency landing in New Orleans after pilots received a “fault”  message.

The plane, which was delivered to the airline Nov. 27., landed safely.

The incident is under investigation. United is working with the FAA to determine its cause, reports said.

The FAA’s directive requires ensuring that lockwire is installed correctly on the engine fuel feed manifold couplings and inspection of the assembly of the engine fuel feed manifold and couplings.

“The incident still is being investigated but looks like it may be minor and (an) easily correctable introductory glitch,” von Rumohr said in his report.

 

 

 

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Boeing’s 737 sets delivery, order records

Dec. 4, 201211:09 a.m.

Courtesy photo

Boeing announced that it’s set a record for the number of 737 deliveries made year-to-date with the delivery of its 377th 737 Next Generation single-aisle aircraft.

The plane was delivered to United Airlines on Monday.

The delivery broke the company’s previous 2010 record of 376 deliveries.

In October, the 737 set a record for the number of net orders in a year with orders of 1,031 737 Next Generation and 737 MAX airplanes.

The number broke Boeing’s record set in 2007 when it recorded 846 net orders.

The 737 is important to Wichita’s Spirit AeroSystems, which builds the 737′s fuselage, nacelles and pylons.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing | Comments Off

Boeing’s commercial airplanes division reorganizes, adds airplane development group

Dec. 3, 201211:26 a.m.

Boeing’s commercial airplane division is restructuring to adjust to a historic boost in airplane production and to help it manage five development programs at the same time.

A new organization called Airplane Development will focus on the development and certification of the 737 MAX, an upgraded version of the 737 airliner, the 767 tanker and the 787-9. It also will lead 777X and 787-10X development work, the company said in an e-mail Monday to employees.

The new organization will be led by Scott Fancher, who will serve as vice president of the group.

Boeing’s South Carolina facility will also transition into the Airplane Programs organization.

And Boeing’s Manufacturing and Quality group will be reconfigured as separate organizations.

The alignment will help the company clarify responsibility, streamline decision-making and accelerate progress, the company said in an e-mail from Ray Conner, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

 

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Boeing receives order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes

Oct. 2, 20123:13 p.m.

Boeing announced that it’s received an order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX airliners from Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes valued at $6 billion at list prices.

GOL plans to use the planes to increase its operational efficiency and reduce costs, Boeing said.

It’s the largest airplane order from a single airline in South America’s aviation history, it said.

The 737 MAX is an upgraded Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplane that will be equipped with new engines, called LEAP-1B, from CFM International, and winglets.

Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, which builds the 737 fuselage, will build the fuselage for the MAX.

Boeing says the MAX will reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions and lower operating costs.

The company now has 724 firm orders for the airplane.

 

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems | Comments Off

SPEEA recommends members at Boeing in Puget Sound reject contract offer

Sept. 18, 201210:58 a.m.

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace negotiators are recommending that members of its professional and technical unit in Puget Sound reject Boeing’s offer of a labor contract.

SPEEA bargaining unit council members voted unanimously to recommend rejection.

The union says that the offer includes wage pools that are the lowest since 1975, and that the offer increases costs for medical benefits, changes retireee benefits and eliminates disability and life insurance benefits for those on military leave.

The union represents 23,000 professional and technical workers at Boeing in Puget Sound.

Votes will be counted Oct. 1. Members aren’t voting on whether to strike.

A strike vote could come later, the union said.

“A strong rejection of these contract offers will send a loud message to Boeing corporate leaders that they must return to negotiations ready to actually negotiate a contract that respects our contributions,” union leaders said in a statement.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, unions | Comments Off

Forecast: Germany will need more than 1,000 new airplanes in next 20 years

Sept. 11, 201210:43 a.m.

Germany will need more than 1,000 new passenger planes and freighters valued at $148 billion at today’s list prices over the next 20 years, a new Airbus global market forecast said.

Demand will include 690 single-aisle planes, more than 230 twin-aisle medium to long-range jets and close to 100 very large aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, the forecast said.

The forecast comes as the Berlin Air Show opens at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport on Tuesday.

Hawker Beechcraft, meanwhile, announced its participation at the Berlin show, which runs through Sunday.

The company will have on display a King Air 250 and Baron G58.

Germany is the largest business aviation market in Europe, Hawker Beechcraft said. About 16 percent of the region’s business airplanes are based in the region.

The country will also be  the biggest market in Europe for passenger aircraft in the next 20 years, according to the Airbus forecast.

Its fleet is expected to nearly double over the next two decades.

Germany’s air travel has grown 45 percent from 2000 to 2011.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Airbus, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, aviation industry, Boeing | Comments Off

Boeing celebrates one-year anniversary of 787 Dreamliner certification

Aug. 27, 20126:28 a.m.

It’s been a year since Boeing achieved certification of its 787 Dreamliner and the Federal Aviation Administration added the plane to the Boeing production certificate.

“Receiving those documents marked a real turning point for the 787 program and was an historic milestone for the Boeing Co.,” Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, said in a statement. “Certification demonstrated that the airplane met all the requirements for commercial operations.”

It also meant that the plane had completed “the most rigorous test program in our history and that the Dreamliner was ready to enter revenue service,” Loftis said.

The program is important to Spirit AeroSystems, which builds the forward fuselage and other portions of the 787.

Boeing has delivered 17 787 Dreamliners to airlines to date.

The first plane was delivered to launch customer All Nippon Airways.

Boeing launched the 787 program in April 2004.

Boeing has more than 800 orders from 58 customers.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing | Comments Off