Airlines

PAINT IS FLAKING ON AIR NEW ZEALAND’S DREAMLINERS

Air New Zealand connects Auckland and New York for the first time ever

The paint on the wings of certain Air New Zealand Boeing 787 planes is starting to flake. The New Zealand journal Business Desk appears to have been the first to report on the situation

Air New Zealand is the latest airline to admit to having paint peeling off composite surfaces. It appears that the airline’s Boeing 787s have been affected, with plans to repaint them beginning in May. Boeing is aware of the problem created by the sun’s UV rays and is working on a solution. “Boeing is working to provide both an immediate as well as longer term solution.”

Peeling paint is a known concern in the fleet, caused by UV rays from the sun affecting a coating in the Dreamliner’s paint, according to Simple Flying. Boeing is developing a new UV-blocking coating that will solve the problem in the long run. Meanwhile, a temporary ‘touch-up’ patch for the problem has been made available. Business Desk further reports that the affected planes will fly out to Boeing in the United States to be repainted. This will take place from May onwards, however, there is no need to ground the jets in the meantime as the issue is purely cosmetic, and doesn’t impact the aircraft’s airworthiness.

Air New Zealand was one of the first customers for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and it already has 14 of the planes. The planes were delivered between 2014 and 2019, with the oldest being over eight years old. The news comes just days after Qatar Airways experienced similar issues with their Airbus A350’s paintwork. After failing to reach an agreement, Qatar Airways decided to take legal action against Airbus.

This is intended to be a long-term solution. Short-term repairs, such as local touch-ups, are also available from Boeing to address the peeling paint. According to the firm, it is working closely with its clients (plural) to resolve this cosmetic issue. As a result, we can presume that additional airlines are experiencing similar challenges, with Boeing meeting their needs to provide the appropriate solution.

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.