Boeing stays firmly on course... to the bottom

[Hot 'n' High]

Originally Posted by Kit Sanbumps KG

...... In terms of 'What could the FAA or Boeing best do with the next hour of their time?', this matter wouldn't be on the agenda. Old aircraft like the 727 are much more crash-prone for a million reasons, and addressing a minor issue like this one is, if one does the maths, a pointless waste of time.

Not arguing either way on the point you made Kit, just a more general observation really. When did this first come to light? Reading Page 2 of the AD, it states ".... At the time of the unsafe condition determination [which seems to imply the discovery of the general issue with the FQIS] in April 2003, Boeing acknowledged that the Model 727 body-mounted auxiliary fuel tanks are high-flammability fuel tanks" but I think the actual 727 analysis was completed in 2016 - "The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2016 (81 FR65579). The NPRM was prompted by the FAA's analysis of the Model 727 fuel system review conducted by the manufacturer.". Now an AD in early 2020 despite the Boeing request to withdraw the NPRM.

A case of someone being asked to see what other potential skeletons relating to Boeing products there are hidden in the FAA files - maybe the FAA checking in their 6 o'clock?