Aviation

Boeing issued immediate response on 16 B737 MAX customers

Boeing will 'very shortly' increase 737 MAX manufacturing to 38 per month.

Boeing issued immediate response on 16 B737 MAX customers: Boeing has recommended on Friday to 16 of its customers to address a potential production issue related to an electrical power system in certain 737 MAX airplanes before operating them.

The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes killed 346 people and was grounded worldwide for more than 20 months. Regulators in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Brazil and other countries recertified the plane to fly after Boeing changed an automated flight-control system that caused the crashes.

Boeing said that the recommendation was made “to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system.” Further, Boeing said it also informing their customers of specific tail numbers and provides direction on appropriate corrective actions.

Boeing did not specify which are the 16 airlines grounded again, but the largest operators of 737 MAX are Southwest Airlines, United, and American Airlines are definitely impacted.

FAA released statement in twitter:

.@Boeing recommends operators of some 737 MAX airplanes temporarily remove them from service to address a potential electrical issue. The FAA will ensure the issue is addressed. Passengers should contact airlines about possible flight delays and cancellations. pic.twitter.com/i6r1fcP5RR

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 9, 2021

Shares of Boeing fell slightly, about 1.4% in early trading Friday following the announcement.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.