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Despite more than a decade to work out problems and an estimated $20 billion to build it, Boeing’s 787 aircraft is still plagued by issues. Ever since 787s finally began flying in 2011, there have been technical and mechanical problems, from software bugs and engine defects to faulty wiring, trouble with hydraulics and fuel tank leaks.
Dreamliners bought by Air India (AI) have a troubled functional history; in the latest reported incidence of malfunctioning on 25 July 2014, Boeing Dreamliners operated by Air India reported serious faults just before the takeoff from New Delhi to Birmingham and Sydney. Air India flight Number AI 113 flying to Birmingham experienced a technical snag of a most unusual nature when the flight deck doors failed to shut properly. Despite repeated efforts, the problem could not be fixed and eventually Air India had to arrange another Dreamliner to fly the already harassed 126 passengers to Birmingham. The flight, scheduled to depart at 13:35 hours, was delayed by 90 minutes. Another Boeing 787 (VT-ANK) was to fly as AI 302 to Sydney with 246 passengers developed a snag as its “bus tie braker” — which is used to change aircraft’s source of power if the primary source fails — failed. A week earlier, two Dreamliners supposed to fly to Moscow and Singapore had also developed snags simultaneously and as such alternative Dreamliners were required to operationalise the respective flights causing a lot of inconvenience to the passengers. In May 2014, almost 250 passengers on board a Boeing Dreamliner flying from Frankfurt to Delhi had a close shave when the aircraft’s windshield cracked minutes after taking off. This was the fifth such instance of windshield cracks in Air India operated Boeing Dreamliner Flights. Moreover, this was incidentally the second time in six months that the same Dreamliner (VT-ANK) suffered a windshield crack as last November also, this plane cracked its windshield on a Delhi-Melbourne flight while landing in Australia.
The functional problems of Boeing 787 Dreamliners are not confined to flights operated merely by the Air India. The Boeing 787 has a problematic history globally ever since its launch some years back. Initial problems were detected in the fuselage section as well as in its engine but later faulty wirings were discovered near the battery of some of its aircraft. For example, a fire started on an empty Japan Airlines (TYO: 9201) 787 at Boston Logan International on January 7 2013. A few days later another Japan Airlines aircraft was found to have a fuel leak and on July 12 2013, an empty Ethiopian Airlines 787 developed a fire due to faulty batteries at London’s Heathrow airport, which shuts down the entire airport temporarily. The frequent incidences of malfunctioning of Boeing 787 Dreamliner have prompted the US National Transportation Safety Board to recommend such aircrafts unsafe for flying.
The incidences of frequent malfunctioning in the Boeing 747 flights have also raised concerns in the Indian Aviation industry and have also prompted the Ministry of Aviation of the Government of India to take cognizance of the problems. In the parliamentary proceedings, the issue of malfunctioning Boeing 787s was raised and queries were made regarding the purchase of the aircrafts. In response to the parliamentary query, the Indian Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati mentioned in a written reply that the AI’s Dreamliner fleet did 9,902 take offs till June, 2014 — and as many as 318 of those flights faced “service delays attributed to technical snags”. Minister of State for Civil Aviation GM Siddeshwara has also mentioned that Air India has taken the issue with Boeing. In a similar vein, Aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa has asked AI to submit a detailed report on the troubles faced with this brand new plane and to see if other international airlines using this aircraft are also facing similar level of troubles. According to reports, Air India had recently declined to take the delivery of the sixteenth aircraft after it faced glitches, including problems with the landing gear, in the test flight. A senior official of the Aviation ministry has also hinted that the ministry might take action and demand an explanation from manufacturer Boeing. This should be an imperative move considering that Air India spent Rs 20000 crores for the acquisitions of 27 Dreamliners from Boeing.
In the wake of the troubled history of Boeing 787 and in concern for air safety regulations, Air India must minutely scrutinize the purchase of each single unit of the aircraft and should be ready to file a lawsuit against if any technical glitch happens in the foreseeable future.
Dreamliners or Nightmares: Why Has India bought the troubled Boeing 787 |
New Delhi Times
Dreamliners bought by Air India (AI) have a troubled functional history; in the latest reported incidence of malfunctioning on 25 July 2014, Boeing Dreamliners operated by Air India reported serious faults just before the takeoff from New Delhi to Birmingham and Sydney. Air India flight Number AI 113 flying to Birmingham experienced a technical snag of a most unusual nature when the flight deck doors failed to shut properly. Despite repeated efforts, the problem could not be fixed and eventually Air India had to arrange another Dreamliner to fly the already harassed 126 passengers to Birmingham. The flight, scheduled to depart at 13:35 hours, was delayed by 90 minutes. Another Boeing 787 (VT-ANK) was to fly as AI 302 to Sydney with 246 passengers developed a snag as its “bus tie braker” — which is used to change aircraft’s source of power if the primary source fails — failed. A week earlier, two Dreamliners supposed to fly to Moscow and Singapore had also developed snags simultaneously and as such alternative Dreamliners were required to operationalise the respective flights causing a lot of inconvenience to the passengers. In May 2014, almost 250 passengers on board a Boeing Dreamliner flying from Frankfurt to Delhi had a close shave when the aircraft’s windshield cracked minutes after taking off. This was the fifth such instance of windshield cracks in Air India operated Boeing Dreamliner Flights. Moreover, this was incidentally the second time in six months that the same Dreamliner (VT-ANK) suffered a windshield crack as last November also, this plane cracked its windshield on a Delhi-Melbourne flight while landing in Australia.
The functional problems of Boeing 787 Dreamliners are not confined to flights operated merely by the Air India. The Boeing 787 has a problematic history globally ever since its launch some years back. Initial problems were detected in the fuselage section as well as in its engine but later faulty wirings were discovered near the battery of some of its aircraft. For example, a fire started on an empty Japan Airlines (TYO: 9201) 787 at Boston Logan International on January 7 2013. A few days later another Japan Airlines aircraft was found to have a fuel leak and on July 12 2013, an empty Ethiopian Airlines 787 developed a fire due to faulty batteries at London’s Heathrow airport, which shuts down the entire airport temporarily. The frequent incidences of malfunctioning of Boeing 787 Dreamliner have prompted the US National Transportation Safety Board to recommend such aircrafts unsafe for flying.
The incidences of frequent malfunctioning in the Boeing 747 flights have also raised concerns in the Indian Aviation industry and have also prompted the Ministry of Aviation of the Government of India to take cognizance of the problems. In the parliamentary proceedings, the issue of malfunctioning Boeing 787s was raised and queries were made regarding the purchase of the aircrafts. In response to the parliamentary query, the Indian Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati mentioned in a written reply that the AI’s Dreamliner fleet did 9,902 take offs till June, 2014 — and as many as 318 of those flights faced “service delays attributed to technical snags”. Minister of State for Civil Aviation GM Siddeshwara has also mentioned that Air India has taken the issue with Boeing. In a similar vein, Aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa has asked AI to submit a detailed report on the troubles faced with this brand new plane and to see if other international airlines using this aircraft are also facing similar level of troubles. According to reports, Air India had recently declined to take the delivery of the sixteenth aircraft after it faced glitches, including problems with the landing gear, in the test flight. A senior official of the Aviation ministry has also hinted that the ministry might take action and demand an explanation from manufacturer Boeing. This should be an imperative move considering that Air India spent Rs 20000 crores for the acquisitions of 27 Dreamliners from Boeing.
In the wake of the troubled history of Boeing 787 and in concern for air safety regulations, Air India must minutely scrutinize the purchase of each single unit of the aircraft and should be ready to file a lawsuit against if any technical glitch happens in the foreseeable future.
Dreamliners or Nightmares: Why Has India bought the troubled Boeing 787 |
New Delhi Times
