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Dreamliner becoming a nightmare for Boeing Dreamliner becoming a nightmare for Boeing
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When an All Nippon Airways 787 Dreamliner took off from Tokyo to Hong Kong on its first commercial flight in October 2011, airline executives in Japan were quick to play down the litany of problems that had delayed the aircraft's arrival from Boeing's production line by more than three years.When an All Nippon Airways 787 Dreamliner took off from Tokyo to Hong Kong on its first commercial flight in October 2011, airline executives in Japan were quick to play down the litany of problems that had delayed the aircraft's arrival from Boeing's production line by more than three years.
But enthusiasm over the Dreamliner's pivotal role in a new age of fuel-efficient commercial aviation has been replaced with mounting concern over its safety and the prospect of more production delays after the aircraft was hit by several worrying incidents in less than a fortnight. But enthusiasm over the Dreamliner's pivotal role in a new age of fuel-efficient commercial aviation has been replaced with mounting concern over its safety and the prospect of further production delays after the aircraft was hit by several worrying incidents in less than a fortnight.
Hours after an ANA Dreamliner was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday morning when a cockpit smoke alarm went off during a domestic flight, the airline and its rival, Japan Airlines grounded their entire combined fleet of 24 Dreamliners – about half the global total in service – to undergo emergency checks. Hours after an ANA Dreamliner was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday morning when a cockpit smoke alarm went off during a domestic flight, the airline and its rival Japan Airlines grounded their entire combined fleet of 24 Dreamliners – about half the global total in service – to undergo emergency checks.
The incident occurred soon after take-off on a flight between Yamaguchi in western Japan and Tokyo. It is the latest in a spate of problems involving JAL and ANA-operated Dreamliners in Japan and the US since the start of the year. They include an electrical fire, two fuel leaks, a brake computer malfunction and a cracked cockpit window. The incident occurred soon after takeoff on a flight between Yamaguchi in western Japan and Tokyo. It is the latest in a spate of problems involving JAL and ANA-operated Dreamliners in Japan and the US since the start of the year. They include an electrical fire, two fuel leaks, a brake computer malfunction and a cracked cockpit window.
"Looking at this from the point of view of the average citizen, having these sort of incidents occur seemingly day after day, one could become very uneasy," Akihiro Ota, the transport minister, told reporters."Looking at this from the point of view of the average citizen, having these sort of incidents occur seemingly day after day, one could become very uneasy," Akihiro Ota, the transport minister, told reporters.
"We plan to look into the scale of these accidents and what the overall situation is. We will convey the message to those who operate the plane that it is absolutely necessary to be safe.""We plan to look into the scale of these accidents and what the overall situation is. We will convey the message to those who operate the plane that it is absolutely necessary to be safe."
By Wednesday the pressure to ground the fleet had become irresistible, with Japan's transport ministry describing the emergency landing as a "major incident" that could have led to an accident. By Wednesday, the pressure to ground the fleet had become irresistible, with Japan's transport ministry describing the emergency landing as a "major incident" that could have led to an accident.
The ministry had already launched an investigation after two incidents involving Dreamliners belonging to Japanese airlines last week. "Given the fuel leakage incidents occurred in succession, the minister directed the aviation director of the Regional Civil Aviation Bureau to open an investigation and find the causes of the two leaks as soon as possible," it said in a statement.The ministry had already launched an investigation after two incidents involving Dreamliners belonging to Japanese airlines last week. "Given the fuel leakage incidents occurred in succession, the minister directed the aviation director of the Regional Civil Aviation Bureau to open an investigation and find the causes of the two leaks as soon as possible," it said in a statement.
Japanese authorities said they would work with Boeing and US aviation authorities, which launched their own comprehensive review of the aircraft on Friday. The US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were monitoring Wednesday's incident.Japanese authorities said they would work with Boeing and US aviation authorities, which launched their own comprehensive review of the aircraft on Friday. The US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were monitoring Wednesday's incident.
There have been suggestions – vigorously denied by Boeing – that the rush to get the first batch of aircraft off the production line and into service may have contributed to the recent problems.There have been suggestions – vigorously denied by Boeing – that the rush to get the first batch of aircraft off the production line and into service may have contributed to the recent problems.
The incidents could cause further delays if the investigations lead to demands for design and other changes in the hundreds of Dreamliners yet to be built. To date Boeing has received orders for more than 800 of the aircraft from airlines around the world. The incidents could cause further delays if the investigations lead to demands for design and other changes in the hundreds of Dreamliners yet to be built. To date, Boeing has received orders for more than 800 of the aircraft from airlines around the world.
The possibility of serous design or technological flaws will hit Japan particularly hard. It has been a vocal champion of the plane's fuel economy, and manufactures about a third of its parts, including its batteries and wings. ANA was heavily involved in the US$207m aircraft's design and is, to date, its biggest customer. The possibility of serous design or technological flaws will hit Japan particularly hard. It has been a vocal champion of the plane's fuel economy, and manufactures about a third of its parts, including its batteries and wings. ANA was heavily involved in the $207m aircraft's design and is, to date, its biggest customer.
ANA flies 17 Dreamliners and has 49 more on order; JAL has seven in operation, with another 38 to come. British Airways has 24 on order and Virgin Atlantic 16.ANA flies 17 Dreamliners and has 49 more on order; JAL has seven in operation, with another 38 to come. British Airways has 24 on order and Virgin Atlantic 16.
Aviation analysts were divided over the seriousness of the recent incidents. "It is not abnormal for new aircraft to have some teething problems," Chris de Lavigne, of Frost and Sullivan in Singapore, told the BBC. "There were initial issues with the Airbus A380 as well. Look where it is today. It is flying successfully and everyone seems to be happy with it."Aviation analysts were divided over the seriousness of the recent incidents. "It is not abnormal for new aircraft to have some teething problems," Chris de Lavigne, of Frost and Sullivan in Singapore, told the BBC. "There were initial issues with the Airbus A380 as well. Look where it is today. It is flying successfully and everyone seems to be happy with it."
But Richard Aboulafia, a senior analyst with the Teal Group in the US, said: "I think you're nearing the tipping point where they need to regard this as a serious crisis. This is going to change people's perception of the aircraft if they don't act quickly."But Richard Aboulafia, a senior analyst with the Teal Group in the US, said: "I think you're nearing the tipping point where they need to regard this as a serious crisis. This is going to change people's perception of the aircraft if they don't act quickly."
The recent fuel leaks and electrical fire occurred while the aircraft were on the ground, and on Wednesday morning, all 129 passengers and eight crew left the plane safely after it landed at Takamatsu airport about 40 minutes after taking off. US aviation officials insist that despite the glitches, the aircraft is safe to fly.The recent fuel leaks and electrical fire occurred while the aircraft were on the ground, and on Wednesday morning, all 129 passengers and eight crew left the plane safely after it landed at Takamatsu airport about 40 minutes after taking off. US aviation officials insist that despite the glitches, the aircraft is safe to fly.
But footage of the plane on the tarmac, its inflatable emergency chutes deployed, will have done little to reassure an increasingly nervous flying public.But footage of the plane on the tarmac, its inflatable emergency chutes deployed, will have done little to reassure an increasingly nervous flying public.
"Particularly worrisome is the fact that problems have arisen with electrical systems, which the 787 is more reliant on compared with conventional aircraft," Kazuki Sugiura, an aviation analyst, told Kyodo."Particularly worrisome is the fact that problems have arisen with electrical systems, which the 787 is more reliant on compared with conventional aircraft," Kazuki Sugiura, an aviation analyst, told Kyodo.
ANA said its fleet of 17 Dreamliners could be back in the air as soon as Thursday, depending on the outcome of safety checks.ANA said its fleet of 17 Dreamliners could be back in the air as soon as Thursday, depending on the outcome of safety checks.
The firm's vice-president, Osamu Shinobe, bowed deeply in apology at a press conference, and confirmed that the battery thought to be behind Wednesday's incident was of the same type involved in an electrical fire aboard a JAL Dreamliner at Boston's Logan Airport last week. The firm's vice-president, Osamu Shinobe, bowed deeply in apology at a press conference, and confirmed that the battery thought to be behind Wednesday's incident was of the same type involved in an electrical fire aboard a JAL Dreamliner at Boston's Logan airport last week.
"There was a battery alert in the cockpit and there was an odd smell detected in the cockpit and cabin, and (the pilot) decided to make an emergency landing," Shinobe said. "There was a battery alert in the cockpit and there was an odd smell detected in the cockpit and cabin, and [the pilot] decided to make an emergency landing," Shinobe said.
Seiji Takaramoto, a JAL spokesman, said the firm had cancelled all five scheduled 787 flights on Wednesday. "We will decide what to do after today based on what ANA finds out about the cause of the problem with their aircraft," he said. JAL spokesman Seiji Takaramoto said the firm had cancelled all five scheduled 787 flights on Wednesday. "We will decide what to do after today based on what ANA finds out about the cause of the problem with their aircraft," he said.
Boeing said it was aware of the emergency landing. "We will be working with our customer and the appropriate regulatory agencies," said Marc Birtel, a Boeing spokesman.Boeing said it was aware of the emergency landing. "We will be working with our customer and the appropriate regulatory agencies," said Marc Birtel, a Boeing spokesman.
The recent scares have so far had no impact on future orders, and neither have they led to groundings by other airlines. The Australian carrier Qantas said its order for 15 Dreamliners remained unchanged, while Air India said it would talk to parts makers but had no plans to take its six existing Dreamliners out of service.The recent scares have so far had no impact on future orders, and neither have they led to groundings by other airlines. The Australian carrier Qantas said its order for 15 Dreamliners remained unchanged, while Air India said it would talk to parts makers but had no plans to take its six existing Dreamliners out of service.
Boeing has said it expects to at least break even on the 1,100 new Dreamliners it expects to deliver over the next decade. But some analysts have predicted that the aircraft's huge development costs mean the company will never make any money from it.Boeing has said it expects to at least break even on the 1,100 new Dreamliners it expects to deliver over the next decade. But some analysts have predicted that the aircraft's huge development costs mean the company will never make any money from it.