Safety of Boeing 787

[scroggins]

I know this post will draw the ire of some, but I'm wondering what the consensus is on the safety status of the Boeing 787, particularly in light of the 737 Max fiasco.

The Al Jazeera documentary was quite shocking, even if it did engage in a bit of gotcha journalism, and this recent article (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/20/business/boeing-dreamliner-production-problems.html) from the New York Times raises many of the same concerns.

My wife will be flying on the Boeing 787 multiple times in the next couple of months, and to be honest I'm deeply concerned. I'll be doing a trans-Atlantic flight on a 787 myself (didn't realize it when I bought the ticket), and needless to say that has me a bit worried as well.

Have these issues been overblown, or is it generally a good idea to avoid the 787 at all costs?

[Espada III]

Unlike the 737 Max, there have been no passenger deaths or even crashes I think of the 787. Yes, there are scare stories, but airplanes are by far the safest form of motorised transport.

[Hotel Tango]

Avoiding the 787 won't guarantee you anything. There's no 100% assurance in any type really. I have flown the 787 several times including it's early days of operation and feel no less safer than I do in a B777 or A330. There are roughly 640 787s in service worldwide flying at least a couple of sectors per day (with the exception of those on scheduled maintenance).

[Saintsman]

When people ask me about aircraft safety, I remind them that the most dangerous thing about flying is the trip to the airport...

Besides, most of the 787 is plastic, so it's not going to be full of metal shavings (or swarf to give it its correct name).

[crewmeal]

Don't forget Airbus have had their problems. Look what happened to Qantas 72 a couple of years ago. Also the Boeing 777 has also had problems some with catastrophic results.

[SamYeager]

When people ask me about aircraft safety, I remind them that the most dangerous thing about flying is the trip to the airport...

Just bear the bolded bit in mind but realise that very, very occasionally you may just be unlucky.

[Ancient Mariner]

I avoid the 787, not for safety reasons, but for comfort ones.
Per

[Hotel Tango]

From what I've seen I know that the type is very poor in the Y class comfort department. Doesn't just apply to the 787 though. There are other types with equally poor Y class comfort, depending on the carrier and their specific configuration. The 787 is fine up front though! :O

[PAXboy]

I try to avoid the 787 for windows that can be electronically closed or tinted a funny colour - when I want to look out at the real world. :mad:

[scroggins]

Thanks, everyone. So the consensus seems to be that it's no more dangerous than other aircraft, though it may have comfort issues in economy class.

Comfort isn't a critical factor for me. I much prefer to fly with US-based carriers, in spite of their generally horrible service, as their safety records are usually impeccable. Unfortunately, that's not always possible where I live, and more and more local carriers are using the 787 (though not Qatar Airways, interestingly).

[Ripton]

...more and more local carriers are using the 787 (though not Qatar Airways, interestingly).

In that case they must have been lying to me - I've been on a couple of flights recently when they told me the plane was a 787. Not a bad plane but nowhere near as nice as their a350-1000s.

[Flap40]

Put a filter into FR24 to show Qatar 787's and this is was is currently airborne.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x567/screenshot_copy_5a86b51902a9fd69441af073468a57545c878d00.jpg

[DaveReidUK]

Put a filter into FR24 to show Qatar 787's and this is was is currently airborne.

No surprises there, given that they have a fleet of 30.

I suspect the previous poster was referring to not seeing them at Saudi airports, which is no surprise either given the current political situation between the two countries.

[Hartington]

I try to avoid the 787 for windows that can be electronically closed or tinted a funny colour - when I want to look out at the real world. :mad:

I avoided them for much the same reason. However, I went on a BA example this time last year and found I rather liked the window control.

[Herod]

An old saying: " All aircraft are incredibly safe. Except of course, when they aren't"