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Boeing: 15 airlines warned over high-altitude ice | Boeing: 15 airlines warned over high-altitude ice |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fifteen airlines have been warned about the risk of ice forming on Boeing's new 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner planes. | 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. | 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. | 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. | These are the latest technical issues to hit the Dreamliner. |
They saw the entire fleet being grounded earlier this year following battery problems. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 services on specific routes," a Boeing spokesman said, according to Reuters news agency. | "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 services on specific routes," a Boeing spokesman said, according to Reuters news agency. |
A GE spokesman told the agency the aviation industry was experiencing "a growing number of ice-crystal icing encounters in recent years as the population of large commercial airliners has grown, particularly in tropical regions of the world". | A GE spokesman told the agency the aviation industry was experiencing "a growing number of ice-crystal icing encounters in recent years as the population of large commercial airliners has grown, particularly in tropical regions of the world". |
He said GE and Boeing were hoping to eliminate the problem by modifying the engine control system software. | He said GE and Boeing were hoping to eliminate the problem by modifying the engine control system software. |
British airways use Rolls Royce engines on their Dreamliners. They are not affected by the warning, says the BBC's Ben Geoghegan. | British airways use Rolls Royce engines on their Dreamliners. They are not affected by the warning, says the BBC's Ben Geoghegan. |
Orders increase | Orders increase |
The 787 Dreamliner has suffered a series of technical and safety problems in recent months. | The 787 Dreamliner has suffered a series of technical and safety problems in recent months. |
In January, its entire fleet was temporarily grounded. The decision came after a fire broke out on one of JAL's Dreamliners, and an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery fault and a fire in one of the electrical compartments. | In January, its entire fleet was temporarily grounded. The decision came after a fire broke out on one of JAL's Dreamliners, and an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery fault and a fire in one of the electrical compartments. |
In July, a fire broke out on a 787 jet operated by Ethiopian Airlines while it was parked at Heathrow airport. It was traced to the upper rear part of the plane where a locator transmitter is situated. | In July, a fire broke out on a 787 jet operated by Ethiopian Airlines while it was parked at Heathrow airport. It was traced to the upper rear part of the plane where a locator transmitter is situated. |
Then in August, ANA said it had found damage to the battery wiring on two 787 locator transmitters during checks. US carrier United Airlines also found a pinched wire during an inspection of one of its six 787s. | Then in August, ANA said it had found damage to the battery wiring on two 787 locator transmitters during checks. US carrier United Airlines also found a pinched wire during an inspection of one of its six 787s. |
Despite the issues, the Dreamliner is still considered to be one of the most advanced planes in the industry and remains popular. | Despite the issues, the Dreamliner is still considered to be one of the most advanced planes in the industry and remains popular. |
Boeing has received orders for more than 1,000 jets since its launch. | |
Last month, it announced plans to raise production of the 787 Dreamliner to 12 per month by 2016. | Last month, it announced plans to raise production of the 787 Dreamliner to 12 per month by 2016. |
That would be an increase from its target for the end of this year of 10 planes a month. | That would be an increase from its target for the end of this year of 10 planes a month. |
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