Aviation

Boeing may end production of its iconic 747 aircraft after nearly 50 years

For decades it was the largest passenger aircraft in the skies, earning it the affectionate nickname of the Jumbo Jet.
But the Boeing 747 could soon be consigned to history after the aircraft manufacturer said it could end production of the aircraft due to diminishing orders.

The company revealed production of the iconic passenger jet, which has a distinctive hump in the forward part of the aircraft to accommodate the upper deck, has slumped in 2016.

Figures revealed by Boeing showed it had delivered just three 747 in the first six months of 2016 compared to nine of the passenger jets in the same period the previous year.
The company has now cancelled plans to increase production of 747s to one plane per month from 2019 and will be halving its production rate in September.
According to Reuters, Boeing said on Wednesday: ‘If we are unable to obtain sufficient orders and/or market, production and other risks cannot be mitigated, we could record additional losses that may be material, and it is reasonably possible that we could decide to end production of the 747.’
In the first six months of 2016, Boeing produced a total of 375 aircraft, down only slightly from 2015 where it delivered 381. Delivers of its 787 aircraft increased from 64 to 68.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”