Boeing expects the inspection and repair of 787s affected by composite delamination due to improper longeron shimming to slow near-term deliveries, but is unlikely to change its full year delivery forecast. "We don't think it will impact deliveries for the year, it will slow things down initially though," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh at a dual 747-8F and 777F delivery to Korean Air Cargo in Everett, Washington 6 February. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Airbus has unveiled the first A350-900 flight-test prototype in its full paint scheme, as the airframer makes final preparations for the twinjet's maiden sortie. The aircraft has been fitted with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and the painting process marks one of the final stages before the flight-test regime begins. Customers have ordered 414 of the -900 variant, the first of the three-member family to be developed. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
US aircraft safety investigators have called for grounding certain Boeing 787s and 747-8s powered by General Electric engines until they are inspected for cracks and also revealed that a cracked fan midshaft was discovered on a third engine last month. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
All Nippon Airways (ANA) grounded five of its 11 Boeing 787 aircraft on 21 July, after being notified by Boeing that there may be a defect in the gearbox of the Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engine. "We received a message from Boeing to the effect that there may be an issue with the gearbox on the engines of the 787s in ANA's fleet. No related problems have arisen on our 787s, however we have ascertained that the part at issue is fitted to five of our aircraft," says an ANA spokesman. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Airbus has completed primary structural assembly of the first flying prototype A350-900, and transported it to the testing station next to the assembly line in Toulouse. The twinjet, MSN1, has been moved, on its own undercarriage for the first time, from the final assembly line. It has yet to be equipped with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB powerplants. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Boeing again faces a manufacturing quality issue, requiring inspections and repairs of its 787 fleet. Structural stiffeners were found to be improperly joined to the composite skin in the aft sections of the aircraft, causing parts of the aircraft's carbon fibre structure to delaminate, confirms the airframer. "Boeing has found that incorrect shimming was performed on support structure on the aft fuselage on certain airplanes in our facility in Everett, [Washington]," said the… (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Airbus is expecting one-off charges to implement a retrofit solution to the A380 wing-rib cracking problem to reach €260 million ($330 million) over 2012. The airframer's parent, EADS, revealed in its first-quarter results that it had already taken a €158 million charge relating to fixing 71 in-service A380s - a fix which, it says, is "more complex" than originally anticipated in March this year. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Japanese carriers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have extended the grounding of its Boeing 787 fleet, following reports that official investigations into the 787 incidents could still be far from over. ANA will be grounding its 787s until 31 January at least, and is using older Boeing 767s and 777s on some services originally scheduled to be operated by the problematic aircraft type. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
Three reports of pilots failing to manually activate air data sensor heating systems on Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft have prompted the US Federal Aviation Administration to propose a fix to more than 1,000 aircraft in the US-registered fleet. Air data sensors include pitot tubes, which if partially or fully blocked by ice, provide erroneous airspeed information to the flight deck. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
United-Continental is in compensation talks with Boeing over delivery delays for its 787 widebodies, according to its annual report filed with US regulators. "The company is currently in discussions with Boeing over potential compensation related to delays in the 787 aircraft deliveries. The company is not able to estimate the ultimate success, amount of, nature or timing of any potential recoveries from Boeing over such delays," said the filing. (www.flightglobal.com) עוד...
