FAA Orders Top-to-Bottom Review of Boeing 787s

Despite the chief engineer of Boeing telling the press that he is “100 percent convinced that the airplane is safe to fly,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a comprehensive review of what the aircraft maker touted as most technologically advanced plane. Two latest incidents regarding Boeing’s newest airplane called the Dreamliner led the FAA to call for a review of the aircraft’s design, manufacture and assembly of the plane. FAA officials are expected to lay out the details of their review in a news conference today (Friday, Jan. 11, 2013). Earlier in the week Vice President and 787 Chief Project Engineer Mike Sinnett indicated the company’s “extreme confidence” in the airplane. Although acknowledging problems to the press, Sinnett said he was “not overly concerned” because they could be fixed. The FAA has not indicated that it would be grounding the planes during the review. The Dreamliner rolled out 15 months ago and has experienced a rocky start including three incidents just this week alone. An All Nippon Airways flight was canceled Wednesday after some brake parts were needed on the Dreamliner. A Japan Airlines flight bound for Tokyo from Boston Tuesday was prevented from taking off when a fuel leak was discovered. And on Monday a battery used to power systems that run while the engines are off caught fire at Logan Airport in Boston. In December, two airlines experienced electrical issues on two separate Dreamliners. One of the Dreamliner’s new features is that it is made largely of lightweight carbon composites instead of aluminum and steel. The FAA set special rules for the lithium-ion batteries in the aircraft that also aren’t commonly used. Eight hundred planes are scheduled to be made; about 50 have been delivered.