The issue pertains to wrinkling in the forward pressure bulkhead in the jets' noses, the person said, asking not to be identified because the details are private. The defect isn't considered a threat to flight safety, the person said.
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The defect is a small, paper-thin gap in the attachment, Boeing said. Such gaps are typically plugged using a filler known as a shim. The shims in the attachment were incorrectly sized so that the gap exceeded the five-thousandths of an inch allowable in the specification.
What is the problem with the bulkhead of the 787? The inspection found gaps that exceeded maximum tolerance and forced Boeing to the decision that the forward pressure bulkhead on every undelivered aircraft would need to be removed and replaced.
The problem involves a fitting for the 787's horizontal stabilizer installed by a Boeing production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company said. The horizontal stabilizer, located at the base of an aircraft's tail, allows a plane to maintain longitudinal balance while flying.
The problem involves a fitting for the 787's horizontal stabilizer installed by a Boeing production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company said. The horizontal stabilizer, located at the base of an aircraft's tail, allows a plane to maintain longitudinal balance while flying.
The typical lifespan of airlinersThe composite-driven Boeing 787 Dreamliner is designed for 44,000 flight cycles. These jets can theoretically last several decades with an average of two flight cycles a day. Unlike commercial airliners, fighter jets are unique due to their mission requirements.
The longer the 787s remained on the ground, the more it would cost to get them to fly again, due to the maintenance work required. As a result, they were no longer airworthy.
The 787 was designed to be the first production airliner with the fuselage comprising one-piece composite barrel sections instead of the multiple aluminum sheets and some 50,000 fasteners used on existing aircraft. Boeing selected two new engines to power the 787, the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and General Electric GEnx.
The Boeing 787 is known to be a more comfortable and efficient aircraft than the 747, especially for long-haul flights. There are objective differences between both planes. The 787 has newer engines, two fewer of them and more electrical (rather than hydraulic) systems, which means much less cabin noise.
Boeing's deliveries of 787s remain halted due to quality and production issues, including those related to gaps and skin flatness between fuselage sections that fail to meet precise tolerances, Boeing has said. Shimming is one method of addressing skin-flatness problems.
The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour. These aircraft are competitive, and nearly tie in economic performance.
The Dreamliner is a successful aircraft, still in production with more than 1600 delivered or on order. The list price for a new Boeing 787-8 is $239 million dollars. Yet even as international travel opens again for these long-range aircraft, two Dreamliners barely ten years old are waiting for the wrecker's ball.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has revolutionized flying for both passengers and pilots. Taking a leap into the future from its predecessors, the designers incorporated a number of new features that make the Dreamliner one of the most fuel efficient and comfortable aircraft in the skies.
Passengers comfortGenerally speaking, the Boeing 777 offers a more comfortable passenger experience. This is because it is somewhat larger than the 787 and has higher capacity, leading to more room in terms of seating comfort.
This advanced fly-by-wire system also is the key to Smoother Ride Technology – unique to the 787 family -- which senses turbulence and adjusts control surfaces automatically to dampen its effects before it reaches the passengers.
While passengers love the experience in the back, it's also a great place for the pilots to work. A number of features on the aircraft set it apart from other aircraft types. So, even when your working day can be 19 hours long, I'd much rather be doing it in a Dreamliner than any other type.
The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour. These aircraft are competitive, and nearly tie in economic performance.
This is quite probably the reason for the popularity of the mid-sized Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which offers its operators a very useful balance of both range and capacity. This mirrors the Boeing 737 MAX family, whereby the MAX 8 model (which is the second-largest of four variants) is by far the most popular version.
The Dreamliner's lightweight composite structure contributes to reduced noise levels, both inside and outside the aircraft. The use of advanced soundproofing materials and quieter engines keeps the cabin environment more tranquil for passengers.
Oldest in-service Boeing 787 currently operates for All Nippon Airways under the registration JA801A. The Japanese airline took delivery of the aircraft in 2011.