Ethiopean 787 fire at Heathrow
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: what U.S. calls ´old Europe´
Wouldnt put the A380 'Glare' in the same league as carbon fibre
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Rainford
I am led to believe she had had her engines removed and parts of the interior. As far as the repair is concernee no one really knows. I run a website that catalogues the dreamliner airframes and incidents etc (b787register) and I have tried to contact Ethiopian but they never respond.
I wouldn't at all be surprised to see her broken up
I wouldn't at all be surprised to see her broken up
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
But until I do, here it is:
Ethiopian 787 'Queen of Sheba' | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Ethiopian 787 'Queen of Sheba' | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 2,093
From: Reading, UK
But until I do, here it is
It's currently occupying Stand 616 at LHR (western side of the Cargo cul-de-sac) while its fate is being considered.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Rainford
I wonder if she had the engines removed for some knida maintenance or even if I had been fed some duff info.
It looks like from the photo she has the inlets covered for her engines. Perhaps thats where the confusion was someone saw people putting these covers on and assumed the engines where being removed?
It looks like from the photo she has the inlets covered for her engines. Perhaps thats where the confusion was someone saw people putting these covers on and assumed the engines where being removed?
Last edited by Dave Cummings; 26th September 2013 at 14:02.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 2,093
From: Reading, UK
OTHO why would you leave engines sitting idle for several weeks when they should be located in a spares location in case somebody needs one immediately ?
I suspect there are enough spare GEnx engines already to support the fleet, anyway.
There is also the issue of perception - while ETH and Boeing are trying to maintain the impression (whether true or not) that the aircraft isn't a write-off, it wouldn't be good PR to have the aircraft start to look like a Christmas tree.
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Lancs, UK
OTHO why would you leave engines sitting idle for several weeks when they should be located in a spares location in case somebody needs one immediately ?
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 0
From: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 2,093
From: Reading, UK
they would have started working on it and not prepared it for what looks like long term storage or worse
Joined: Jul 2013
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 5,679
Likes: 3,341
From: Everett, WA
If the decision had been made to scrap it, I'd expect the engines and other high value LRUs would already be removed.
Without knowing the extent of the (non-structural) fire damage to the interior, I'd think the easiest repair would be to simply replace the aft fuselage tail section. The 787 fuselage is manufactured as sections - nose, a few constant diameter pieces, and tail - based on the pieces I see sitting around at Boeing waiting for final assembly, the tail section would have most if not all of the structural damage.
A bigger issue might the interior - I suspect most of the interior suffered smoke damage and would need to be replaced (that smell simply does not go away).
It's also possible that if the air safety investigation is still open, it may be quarantined in case the authorities want to do further inspections.
Without knowing the extent of the (non-structural) fire damage to the interior, I'd think the easiest repair would be to simply replace the aft fuselage tail section. The 787 fuselage is manufactured as sections - nose, a few constant diameter pieces, and tail - based on the pieces I see sitting around at Boeing waiting for final assembly, the tail section would have most if not all of the structural damage.
A bigger issue might the interior - I suspect most of the interior suffered smoke damage and would need to be replaced (that smell simply does not go away).
It's also possible that if the air safety investigation is still open, it may be quarantined in case the authorities want to do further inspections.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
It's also possible that if the air safety investigation is still open, it may be quarantined in case the authorities want to do further inspections.
none of this "just in case" stuff when it comes to million dollar resources.
The investigators will be happy to continue a leisurely investigation only if the owner is not actively using the plane for anything else.
Joined: Jul 2013
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 5,679
Likes: 3,341
From: Everett, WA
No way,
none of this "just in case" stuff when it comes to million dollar resources.
The investigators will be happy to continue a leisurely investigation only if the owner is not actively using the plane for anything else.
none of this "just in case" stuff when it comes to million dollar resources.
The investigators will be happy to continue a leisurely investigation only if the owner is not actively using the plane for anything else.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 0
From: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Not being sarcastic.
It's one thing to have an active investigation with a timeline. Quite another to have a pseudo investigation with no time line when it comes to high value assets.
If you leave this open then you will quickly have no industry to investigate.
We may have different opinions but I see no data to support frozen high value assets without a time line.
It's one thing to have an active investigation with a timeline. Quite another to have a pseudo investigation with no time line when it comes to high value assets.
If you leave this open then you will quickly have no industry to investigate.
We may have different opinions but I see no data to support frozen high value assets without a time line.