Much ado about nothing? Perhaps not, but its a lot of fuss about a routine safety precaution affecting roughly 180 of the world's several thousand Boeing airliners. The press had a field day, scaring an already jittery public witless by yammering on about exploding fuel tanks. The AD sold a lot of newspapers, as they so often do, but any resulting loss of public confidence threatens our jobs in aviation. We have a responsibility to reassure the public, not wind them up even more.
So, lets keep things in perspective; a problem has been identified and action put in place to prevent further hazard. Last Thursday Boeing advised all B737, B757 & B747 operators of the situation, giving advance notice of the impending Emergency AD and provided figures for minimum fuel quantities at both departure and arrival for all affected models, to assure safe operation. It appears that all parties behaved responsibly once it became apparent that a problem existed in at least one example of a redesigned fuel pump. We quite rightly expect no less, but can anyone demand more? Can a world without risk ever become reality?
The AD applies only to a recent (dash 4) model of Hydro-Aire's Fuel Pumps introduced on new build aeroplanes earlier this year. On other aeroplanes delivered prior to 2002, pumps may have been modified to dash 4 status and installed by Boeing Service Bulletins issued only in June. Given the time it takes to assess SBs, arrange roll-over modification programmes and route pumps through the shop, I doubt if many (or any!) pump retrofit modifications have been accomplished since June.
BTW, why were the pumps modified in the first place? To provide closing action for an AD issed previously in 1997 (arising from TWA800 no less) calling for repetitive inspections of fuel pumps...
Last edited by Old Phart; 2nd Sep 2002 at 05:08.