Travel News - Al Jazeera: Boeing safety claims investigated

An Al Jazeera documentary has raised serious questions about official investigations into the safety of more than 1,500 of the most commonly-used passenger planes in the world.

Boeing's 737NG is flown by more than 150 airlines worldwide, but for more than 10 years whistleblowers who used to work for Boeing have raised serious doubts about the manufacture of key structural parts for many of the planes.

The parts in question are called "chords" and "bear straps": the chords make up the ribs of the aircraft fuselage and the bear straps are huge sheets which reinforce the exits and doorways on the fuselage.

The whistleblowers have made claims in a US court that the parts – made by a sub-contractor for Boeing between 1996 and 2004 - were ill-fitting and illegal, but that Boeing used many of them to build the aircraft.

Aviation experts working with these whistleblowers tell the programme that the problem with these parts could lead to a "catastrophic failure" of aircraft fitted with them.

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2010/12/2010121516520679770.html

I'm watching this right now.

Oh yes that purveyer of unbiased truth "Al Jazeera".

The same news site that gave us the unbiased reports on the Iraq war.

This claim is absurd. One would believe that the FAA and Boeing would have already dealt with this issue if it was a true issue. Let's believe everything we read or hear on the internet or television.. it's always accurate. :rolleyes:

The same news site that gave us the unbiased reports on the Iraq war.

Fox News?

This claim is absurd. One would believe that the FAA and Boeing would have already dealt with this issue if it was a true issue. Let's believe everything we read or hear on the internet or television.. it's always accurate. :rolleyes:

Ever heard of a cover-up? Just look at the problem with the MD-80 jackscrews, how long did Alaska Airlines try to hide their servicing error?
I believe that this documentary presented evidence in a scientific manner, stating a theory and backing it up with evidence from many sources. Those whistleblowers have risked their careers to help people's safety, and have all the evidence to prove their case. Similarly, the Alaska Airlines (iirc) whistleblower also lost his job.
I mean, did you even watch this? Why would the Dept of Justice make a false statement clearing Ducommun of blame in the Air Jamaica crash, saying that the NTSB cleared them, when the NTSB CATEGORICALLY denied making such a claim.
Wake up, and realize that when people fabricate lies, it's for a reason.

Fox News?

+1. IMO, Al-Jazeera is one of the best news providers in the world, and unlike the BBC, are not declining to CNN standards of crap.



I, for one, will avoid flying on 737s whenever possible. Sure, the risk is still small, but as these planes age, if the extent of the problem is as bad as claimed, these things will eventually start dropping out the sky. At least we now have people on record to prosecute...

Wake up, and realize that when people fabricate lies, it's for a reason.

I'm already awake, thank you. :rolleyes: People can come up with any number of reasons to fabricate or over dramatize something on either side of an issue.

I'm already awake, thank you. :rolleyes: People can come up with any number of reasons to fabricate or over dramatize something on either side of an issue.

:p
Sorry, I've just become disenchanted with many peoples complacency lately to act on what's right.
I would agree with you on that point. Sure, it may have some bias, I don't disagree with that. However, there is a good amount of solid evidence shown here, and the fact the FAA, Dept of Justice, and others didn't really want to respond to much of this just seems to implicate them further.

Fox News?

Well said. ^

Washington Post Article on this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/16/AR2006041600803.html

Took me a few tries to find this thread -- surprised that it is this quiet here?

Saw this post ...
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/04/26/jb-campbell-urgent-737-ng-warning/

then watched the video ... http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2010/12/20101214104637901849.html

It does make me sad that we treat whistle blowers this poorly .... and that government seems to so ineffective at times.

Greg

Plenty of people who work in purchasing have no idea about what is or is not acceptable in aviation.

Please take political posts to OMNI/PR. Thanks.

cblaisd
Moderator, Newsstand