Aviation

FAA Proposes Critical Maintenance Checks on Some Boeing 787 Dreamliners

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a proposed airworthiness directive (AD) in response to a report from Boeing indicating that certain inspections of the Boeing 787 main landing gear (MLG) were missed during production.

This oversight, attributed to human error, was discovered during the manufacturing process of four drag brace lower link assemblies of the MLG, where a required fluorescent penetrant inspection was omitted.

The FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) revealed that the missing inspections were identified in a Boeing report. The report highlighted that the fluorescent penetrant inspection, crucial for detecting cracks in the MLG drag strut lower link assemblies, was not performed on four assemblies during their manufacturing.

FAA rolling out new technology at four US airports:Click here

The FAA emphasized the potential risks associated with this oversight. If the issue is not addressed, there is a risk of MLG collapse, which could lead to a loss of directional control while the aircraft is on the ground. This scenario could increase the risk of a runway excursion or even fuel tank penetration.

The FAA’s subsequent investigation determined that the safety lapse was caused by human error and was isolated to a single technician. Undetected cracks could lead to the fracture of the part, creating an “unsafe condition” that may cause the landing gear to collapse, according to the regulator.

This finding comes at a time when Boeing is under heightened scrutiny from regulators. A mid-air blowout on one of its 737 Max jets in January uncovered manufacturing and quality lapses at its factories. In response, Boeing has been making strides to address these issues, including encouraging more employees to report problems they observe on the shop floor.

Additionally, in May, the FAA disclosed a separate investigation involving the 787 after Boeing alerted authorities to potentially missed inspections. These inspections were meant to confirm adequate bonding and grounding where the wings attach to the aircraft body.

Aviation

DOT Penalizes Lufthansa $4 Million for Stopping Jewish Passengers From Boarding

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a $4 million penalty on Lufthansa for discriminating against Jewish passengers traveling from New York City to Budapest via Frankfurt in May 2022. The incident marked the largest civil rights fine ever levied by the DOT against an airline.

The case stems from an incident where Lufthansa denied 128 Jewish passengers — most of whom were wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish attire — from boarding their connecting flight in Germany.

China Airlines eyes new aircraft order for 777X and A350-1000

The airline’s actions were based on the alleged misconduct of a few individuals during the first leg of the journey from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). However, many of those passengers did not know each other or travel as a group. DOT investigators found that Lufthansa treated them as a single entity, barring them from their connecting flight to Budapest (BUD) for the actions of a few.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting passengers’ rights. “No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” he said. Buttigieg added that DOT’s increased enforcement efforts aim to ensure airlines treat all passengers with fairness and dignity.

This aircraft won’t need a runway

The investigation began after DOT received over 40 complaints from Jewish passengers affected by the incident. Despite some passengers failing to follow crew instructions on the first flight, lufthansa business lounge newark did not specifically identify any noncompliant individuals.

Instead, the airline placed a blanket hold on the tickets of over 100 passengers, preventing them from continuing their journey. lufthansa airways acknowledged that this approach could lead to excluding compliant passengers but deemed it impractical to address each case individually.