Aviation safety is again in the news as Boeing issues are notice to 15 major airlines worldwide of concern about engine freezing in their new Dreamliner at higher altitudes. Today's post is shared from Reuters.com
Boeing plans to raise production of the 787 Dreamliner to 12 per month by 2016
Fifteen airlines have been warned about the risk of ice forming on Boeing's new 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner planes.
The issue - affecting some types of engines made by General Electric when planes fly near high-level thunderstorms - prompted Japan Airlines to cancel two international routes. There have been six incidents since April when aircraft powered by GE engines lost power at high altitude. These are the latest technical issues to hit the Dreamliner. They saw the entire fleet being grounded earlier this year following battery problems. The Boeing 747-8 series and the new 787 Dreamliner are the only types of aircraft affected by the high-altitude icing issue. The new warning was given to airlines including Lufthansa, United Airlines and Japan Airlines. It says aircraft with the affected engines - GE's GEnx - must not be flown within 50 nautical miles of thunderstorms that may contain ice crystals. As a result, Japan Airlines (JAL) has decided to withdraw Dreamliners from service on the Tokyo-Delhi and Tokyo-Singapore routes. "Boeing and JAL share a commitment to the safety of passengers and crews on board our airplanes. We respect JAL's decision to suspend some 787... |
