FAA Grounds 787s
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Toronto
But MBA programmes make one a deeper and more comprehensive thinker (so their ads say). Isn't that why the ratio of engineers who get MBA's to MBA's who go on to get engineering degrees is so lopsided?
Last edited by kilomikedelta; 10th July 2013 at 22:22.
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Las Vegas NV.
I guess nobody remembers the good old days. NiCads had the same kind of problems in the beginning, going into thermal runaway.
If we applied the same logic, we would still be flying unpressurized turboprops and radials, after all that De Havilland Comet didn't work out too well at first.
If we applied the same logic, we would still be flying unpressurized turboprops and radials, after all that De Havilland Comet didn't work out too well at first.

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 307
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From: England
In the 'Good old days', the manufacturers bottomed out the cause of the problem and then carried on.
Following the Comet crashes, DH built a fuselage sized tank and ran endless pressurisation cycles, when the inevitable happened they gained an understanding of the cause.
Boeing tweaked some software parameters on the charging algorithms, built a steel box round the battery and carried on: Root cause of the problem still unknown.
'Good old days' not looking too shabby now are they?
Following the Comet crashes, DH built a fuselage sized tank and ran endless pressurisation cycles, when the inevitable happened they gained an understanding of the cause.
Boeing tweaked some software parameters on the charging algorithms, built a steel box round the battery and carried on: Root cause of the problem still unknown.
'Good old days' not looking too shabby now are they?

Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 304
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From: UK
EEngr
The changes interfered with Boeing's strategy to push engineering tasks out to subcontractors. But only for a while. By the time I left, they were back on track outsourcing everything..
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with outsourcing. But there is a corollary and that is that some of the costs that you save get eaten up by the increased inspection and audit requirements of subcontractor parts, services, materials supply chain and QA. There is no free lunch.
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Toronto
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with outsourcing. But there is a corollary and that is that some of the costs that you save get eaten up by the increased inspection and audit requirements of subcontractor parts, services, materials supply chain and QA. There is no free lunch.
MBA's don't know their anal sphincter from page four when it comes to engineering (especially those whose first degree was in engineering and sold out).
An engineer's iron ring (in Canada) is a constant reminder to graduates of their responsibility to the public.
An MBA's focus is compensation, career path and promises of shareholder value. They have no professional body to ensure any responsibility to anything.
When you reject professionalism, there's very little left for future generations.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 165
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From: Las Vegas NV.
IIRC: 2 comets were lost at takeoff DeH introduced fixes.
They lost 2 more in flight and introduced fixes for anything they could think of. After the 3rd in flight hull loss, they tried the water tank. ( I might have one to many in there??)
Even though this looks like a "best guess" kind of fix, it includes measures to prevent hull loss in the event of another failure. So it will either:
1) not happen again
2) happen again to a random a/c
3) happen again to the same a/c
If 3 happens, it will turn out to be something "goofy" like bad bonding in the HF radio system or antenna.
my 2 cents, and overpriced at that!
They lost 2 more in flight and introduced fixes for anything they could think of. After the 3rd in flight hull loss, they tried the water tank. ( I might have one to many in there??)
Even though this looks like a "best guess" kind of fix, it includes measures to prevent hull loss in the event of another failure. So it will either:
1) not happen again
2) happen again to a random a/c
3) happen again to the same a/c
If 3 happens, it will turn out to be something "goofy" like bad bonding in the HF radio system or antenna.
my 2 cents, and overpriced at that!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 71
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From: Placerville, CA
Momoe:
So DH built a single test tank and waited a long time. Boeing has installed a test tank in each plane in the fleet. Sounds more efficient, right?
In the 'Good old days', the manufacturers bottomed out the cause of the problem and then carried on.
Following the Comet crashes, DH built a fuselage sized tank and ran endless pressurisation cycles, when the inevitable happened they gained an understanding of the cause.
Boeing tweaked some software parameters on the charging algorithms, built a steel box round the battery and carried on: Root cause of the problem still unknown.
'Good old days' not looking too shabby now are they?
Following the Comet crashes, DH built a fuselage sized tank and ran endless pressurisation cycles, when the inevitable happened they gained an understanding of the cause.
Boeing tweaked some software parameters on the charging algorithms, built a steel box round the battery and carried on: Root cause of the problem still unknown.
'Good old days' not looking too shabby now are they?
Last edited by inetdog; 11th July 2013 at 22:14. Reason: speling




Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,182
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From: UK
So DH built a single test tank and waited a long time. Boeing has installed a test tank in each plane in the fleet. Sounds more efficient, right?
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 165
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From: Las Vegas NV.
AFAIK:
They lost 2 hulls do to "pilot error" and they made some mods.
They lost 1 hull when the wings came off and made some mods ( artificial feel aka Arthur Q)
They then lost 3 more hulls to inflight breakup THEN grounded the fleet.
Tough trying something new in aviation, isn't it.
They lost 2 hulls do to "pilot error" and they made some mods.
They lost 1 hull when the wings came off and made some mods ( artificial feel aka Arthur Q)
They then lost 3 more hulls to inflight breakup THEN grounded the fleet.
Tough trying something new in aviation, isn't it.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15
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From: USA, Vermont
"Except the Comet was grounded until they understood the failure mode(s) and only flew again after major modifications."
After losing three planes and all on board, I would certainly hope so
Do you really think the 787 battery problem can be compared to the loss of three Comets and all on board? Really now
After losing three planes and all on board, I would certainly hope so

Do you really think the 787 battery problem can be compared to the loss of three Comets and all on board? Really now
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Australia
An MBA's focus is compensation, career path and promises of shareholder value. They have no professional body to ensure any responsibility to anything.
More than just an ATCO
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
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From: Up someone's nose
RCav8or posted
Google "B737 rudder reversal" for a triumph of profits over safety
"Except the Comet was grounded until they understood the failure mode(s) and only flew again after major modifications."
After losing three planes and all on board, I would certainly hope so
Do you really think the 787 battery problem can be compared to the loss of three Comets and all on board? Really now
After losing three planes and all on board, I would certainly hope so
Do you really think the 787 battery problem can be compared to the loss of three Comets and all on board? Really now
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 118
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From: Toronto
LASJhawk;
Good one!
It appears you are close to the generation who experienced the wonders of Lucas 'engineering'.
Lucas now is owned by the Blackstone Group whose principals we all know are at the cutting edge of electrical engineering.
No, Lucas didn't do the 787 electrical design. It was outsourced by Boeing to Thales who outsourced it to Securaplane who are owned by Meggitt who are owned by the 3i group. I've probably missed a number of corporate intermediaries but the corporate lawyers and MBA's I'm sure were orgasmic about their fees in arranging all that because it created the epitome of engineering excellence.
No matter, it will take decades of lawsuits to sort out who screwed up and by then we will all be dead or demented.
Boeing may not survive but their law firms will.
It wasn't Lucas was it?
It appears you are close to the generation who experienced the wonders of Lucas 'engineering'.
Lucas now is owned by the Blackstone Group whose principals we all know are at the cutting edge of electrical engineering.
No, Lucas didn't do the 787 electrical design. It was outsourced by Boeing to Thales who outsourced it to Securaplane who are owned by Meggitt who are owned by the 3i group. I've probably missed a number of corporate intermediaries but the corporate lawyers and MBA's I'm sure were orgasmic about their fees in arranging all that because it created the epitome of engineering excellence.
No matter, it will take decades of lawsuits to sort out who screwed up and by then we will all be dead or demented.
Boeing may not survive but their law firms will.
Last edited by kilomikedelta; 14th July 2013 at 23:46.

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 134
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From: Apple Maggot Quarantine Area
Who did the electrical on 787?
It wasn't Lucas was it?
It wasn't Lucas was it?
Aero Engine Controls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,191
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From: lancs.UK
AFAIK, Lucas went T.U. ...........the bones became Delphi...went T.U again...I don't think that anything is made by "lucas"in the UK.
anyone who has had the misfotune to own a diesel with a Delphi injector-pump,will not need any further info.
Maybe the Lucas Aerospace division was /is an independent company.
riches to rags in less than40 years.
Signs are, Boeing is being raped in the same fashion.
anyone who has had the misfotune to own a diesel with a Delphi injector-pump,will not need any further info.
Maybe the Lucas Aerospace division was /is an independent company.
riches to rags in less than40 years.
Signs are, Boeing is being raped in the same fashion.



