787 and lightning strikes

[CONSO]

from WSJLightning Hazards Prompt Boeing to Fix 787 Jets

Manufacturer aims to eliminate chances of cockpit displays failing due to lightning events

https://www.wsj.com/articles/lightni...s&page=1&pos=2

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By

Andy Pasztor

April 25, 2018 6:30 a.m. ET

Boeing Co. BA -0.02% is enhancing software on current and future 787 jetliners to prevent electrical spikes generated by lightning storms from potentially disabling cockpit instruments.

The moves were initially prompted by an incident years ago when three of five primary cockpit displays on a United Airlines 787 Dreamliner suddenly stopped functioning after the plane was hit by lightning. The incident surprised regulators and company safety experts alike, as such equipment failures were considered extremely improbable on such models.The issue, and Boeing’s responses, were revealed in a recently released report by investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The document describes, among other things, the hazards posed by a ”high intensity electric field radiated inside the cockpit” from nearby lightning. Such dangers historically weren’t considered part of mandatory airliner certification standards because the underlying technical reasons weren’t understood until the safety board and Boeing joined forces to investigate the unusual United incident."

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