FAA Grounds 787s
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Auckland, NZ
Age: 79
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Spooky 2
Glad to see you won't be riding on 787's soon. What will you be riding that makes you feel secure, safe and without being in danger. How are getting to the airport BTW?
No point in incurring avoidable risk.
and why do you drive your car in traffic when you can avoid it by taking a bus?
most risk is avoidable, but living a normal life usually take precedence
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Auckland, NZ
Age: 79
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by lomapaseo
and why do you drive your car in traffic when you can avoid it by taking a bus?
most risk is avoidable, but living a normal life usually take precedence
most risk is avoidable, but living a normal life usually take precedence
The real point, of course, is that scoring debating points off people who express caution about the success of the fixes does NOT persuade anyone, and sounds rather desperate. I can well understand anxiety about an aeroplane which is so important for Boeing, and the airlines, but the emotional urgency in responses like that suggests a similarly emotional atmosphere behind the approval of the fixes. "This has to work because it's so important, and anyone who doubts it is JUST NOT LISTENING TO REASON."
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: london
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Boeing Engineering Leader 787, Richard J Horigan, Thursday 25th, from AVIATIONPROS.com
I sure hope those words don't come back to bite him 
Regards, Den. still not going to fly on one yet
all potential causes of the battery fire have been eliminated with the new redesigned battery system
Regards, Den. still not going to fly on one yet
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sun, water, and lots of sand
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The "DURACELL" has landed in Nairobi. Great stuffs!!!! 
An Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner has flown from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, the first commercial flight by the Boeing aircraft since all 787s were grounded in January.
The 50 planes around the world were grounded due to battery malfunctions that saw one 787 catch fire in the US.
Over the past week teams of Boeing engineers have been fitting new batteries to the aircraft.
This was after aviation authorities approved the revamped battery design.
The Ethiopian Airlines plane took off at 09:45 local time (07:45 GMT) and landed in Nairobi, Kenya, some two hours later.
Engineering team
Each 787 has two of the lithium-ion batteries which caused problems.
In addition to new versions of the batteries which run at a much cooler temperature, the batteries are now enclosed in stainless steel boxes.
These boxes have a ventilation pipe that goes directly to the outside of the plane. Boeing says this means than in the unlikely event of any future fire or smoke, it would not affect the rest of the aircraft.
The two-hour flight from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Nairobi in Kenya is not normally a flight that would make headline news around the world.
But this journey is special, because it should mark the end of an incredibly damaging chapter for Boeing's flagship airliner.
I'll be talking to passengers on board the flight, and it'll be fascinating to see how they feel about flying on a plane that was grounded across the globe only last January after one battery caught fire and another overheated, forcing an emergency landing.
Boeing and its customers, who include British Airways, Virgin and Thomson, will be desperate to put the whole episode behind them.
Boeing said it put 200,000 engineer hours into fixing the problem, with staff working round the clock.
On Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a formal "air worthiness" directive allowing revamped 787s to fly.
Japanese airlines, which have been the biggest customers for the new-generation aircraft, are expected to begin test flights on Sunday.
A total of 300 Boeing engineers, pooled into 10 teams, have in the past week been fitting the new batteries and their containment systems around the world.
Boeing is expected to complete repairs on all 50 of the grounded Dreamliners by the middle of May.
In addition to the Dreamliners in service with airlines, Boeing has upgraded the 787s it has continued to make at its factory in Seattle since January.
The Dreamliner entered service in 2011. Half of the plane is made from lightweight composite materials, making it more fuel efficient than other planes of the same size.
The two lithium-ion batteries are not used when the 787 is in flight.
They are operational when the plane is on the ground and its engines are not turned on, and are used to power the aircraft's brakes and lights.
An Ethiopian Airlines 787 Dreamliner has flown from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, the first commercial flight by the Boeing aircraft since all 787s were grounded in January.
The 50 planes around the world were grounded due to battery malfunctions that saw one 787 catch fire in the US.
Over the past week teams of Boeing engineers have been fitting new batteries to the aircraft.
This was after aviation authorities approved the revamped battery design.
The Ethiopian Airlines plane took off at 09:45 local time (07:45 GMT) and landed in Nairobi, Kenya, some two hours later.
Engineering team
Each 787 has two of the lithium-ion batteries which caused problems.
In addition to new versions of the batteries which run at a much cooler temperature, the batteries are now enclosed in stainless steel boxes.
These boxes have a ventilation pipe that goes directly to the outside of the plane. Boeing says this means than in the unlikely event of any future fire or smoke, it would not affect the rest of the aircraft.
The two-hour flight from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Nairobi in Kenya is not normally a flight that would make headline news around the world.
But this journey is special, because it should mark the end of an incredibly damaging chapter for Boeing's flagship airliner.
I'll be talking to passengers on board the flight, and it'll be fascinating to see how they feel about flying on a plane that was grounded across the globe only last January after one battery caught fire and another overheated, forcing an emergency landing.
Boeing and its customers, who include British Airways, Virgin and Thomson, will be desperate to put the whole episode behind them.
Boeing said it put 200,000 engineer hours into fixing the problem, with staff working round the clock.
On Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a formal "air worthiness" directive allowing revamped 787s to fly.
Japanese airlines, which have been the biggest customers for the new-generation aircraft, are expected to begin test flights on Sunday.
A total of 300 Boeing engineers, pooled into 10 teams, have in the past week been fitting the new batteries and their containment systems around the world.
Boeing is expected to complete repairs on all 50 of the grounded Dreamliners by the middle of May.
In addition to the Dreamliners in service with airlines, Boeing has upgraded the 787s it has continued to make at its factory in Seattle since January.
The Dreamliner entered service in 2011. Half of the plane is made from lightweight composite materials, making it more fuel efficient than other planes of the same size.
The two lithium-ion batteries are not used when the 787 is in flight.
They are operational when the plane is on the ground and its engines are not turned on, and are used to power the aircraft's brakes and lights.
Last edited by sidestick driver; 27th Apr 2013 at 12:08.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Belgium
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ethiopian Airlines is trying very hard to be Africa's number one airline. They are investing big in both passenger and freight operations and generally speaking do an OK job.
Passengers have been waiting for this as up till now most mid-haul busy routes have been served by ancient 767s. They have a few 777 ER that are new but they desperately needed their 787s. Typical of Ethiopian to be first to fly the "fixed" 787 just for publicity.
Passengers have been waiting for this as up till now most mid-haul busy routes have been served by ancient 767s. They have a few 777 ER that are new but they desperately needed their 787s. Typical of Ethiopian to be first to fly the "fixed" 787 just for publicity.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ethiopian have been a major Boeing customer for years - I think they were one of the first African airlines to buy the 707 way back
In general they aren't that bad - especially when you look at the alternatives
for years the best route to Yemen was via Addis with EA
In general they aren't that bad - especially when you look at the alternatives
for years the best route to Yemen was via Addis with EA
Last edited by Heathrow Harry; 27th Apr 2013 at 13:27.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Each 787 has two of the lithium-ion batteries which caused problems.
In addition to new versions of the batteries which run at a much cooler temperature, the batteries are now enclosed in stainless steel boxes.
In addition to new versions of the batteries which run at a much cooler temperature, the batteries are now enclosed in stainless steel boxes.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been a professional pilot for 38 years (this year) and I'd hop into the back of a B787 and fly it anywhere in the world without one tidbit of worry or concern.
I'd just enjoy the nice cabin pressure differential, quiet ride and watching the 'plastic' wings flex during any turbulent air. (Sorry about the word plastic....we all know this is not the case).
It's gonna' be a great flying machine.....history will prove this. And NO I don't work for Boeing.
Fly safe my friends
I'd just enjoy the nice cabin pressure differential, quiet ride and watching the 'plastic' wings flex during any turbulent air. (Sorry about the word plastic....we all know this is not the case).
It's gonna' be a great flying machine.....history will prove this. And NO I don't work for Boeing.
Fly safe my friends
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Downunder
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jetstar2,
I've been a 'professional pilot' since 1969 (44 years in May when I joined Fiji Airways), and still flying, and nothing would entice me on board a 787, especially more then a few miles away from the nearest suitable alternate.
I've been a 'professional pilot' since 1969 (44 years in May when I joined Fiji Airways), and still flying, and nothing would entice me on board a 787, especially more then a few miles away from the nearest suitable alternate.
Last edited by skol; 28th Apr 2013 at 06:44.
OLD RED DAMASK
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lancashire born. In Cebu now
Age: 70
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd just enjoy the nice cabin pressure differential, quiet ride and watching the 'plastic' wings flex during any turbulent air. (Sorry about the word plastic....we all know this is not the case).
Now then if my system was bashed into a wall or another system, I would expect it to stay in alignment and be usable on patients.
Knowing that at airports accidents happen between ground handling equipment and planes, in "old aluminium" fuselages a "bash" can clearly be seen. It would be inspected for the type and extent of damage and a decision would be made to say whether it was airworthy or not.
With PLASTIC fuselages I wonder what Boeing's SOP is? A quick look will not determine the extent of the damage/potential crack. At 39000ft I don't want to be the SLF to find out when it splits. I know X-ray inspection should be used but will this be available at airports worldwide?
Any answers to a simple question??
I for one will be avoiding this aircraft.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Korea
Age: 62
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd just enjoy the nice cabin pressure differential, quiet ride and watching the 'plastic' wings flex during any turbulent air. (Sorry about the word plastic....we all know this is not the case).
For those who have not read this whole thread the containment boxes are not something dreamed up recently by Boeing as a "fix" to the recent issues. They were stipulated by the FAA in 2007 as part of the special conditions for introducing new technology not covered by existing regulations. The original document containing these special conditions was posted by someone a few pages back on this thread. Boeing are just 6 years late in complying with these requirements.
Last edited by Cool Guys; 28th Apr 2013 at 08:59.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hotel Gypsy
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cool Guys, sorry but just looking for clarification regarding your last post.
Are you saying that the technology wasn't initially assessed at being new thus no need for the box, or is it the case that Boeing overlooked the box requirement when initially designing the system?
Coming from a safety background, I'm not heartened by phrases such as ".... just six years late in complying...."
Are you saying that the technology wasn't initially assessed at being new thus no need for the box, or is it the case that Boeing overlooked the box requirement when initially designing the system?
Coming from a safety background, I'm not heartened by phrases such as ".... just six years late in complying...."
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: toofaraway
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
comfortable experience in this cool plane...
Cool Guys, that's an unfortunate choice of words. The 787 Spitfire is not cool, it's fuming hot, that's the problem.
It is for now a fairly advanced plane that will one day be consigned to history like the former "stars" 727 and DC-9.
It is for now a fairly advanced plane that will one day be consigned to history like the former "stars" 727 and DC-9.
This Airworthiness Directive explains all: US-2013-08-12
EASA Airworthiness Directives Publishing Tool
112 man hours + approx £455,000 parts cost.
EASA Airworthiness Directives Publishing Tool
112 man hours + approx £455,000 parts cost.
Last edited by Dannyboy39; 28th Apr 2013 at 11:41.