Reuters: Potential 787 Range Issues
Mar 27, 2013 | 8:21 am
#1
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Reuters: Potential 787 Range Issues
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...anyNews&rpc=43
The hits keep on coming but this shouldn't be too surprising that the FAA would at least look into this.
(Reuters) - As Boeing works to regain permission for its 787 Dreamliner to resume flights, the company faces what could be a costly new challenge: a temporary ban on some of the long-distance, trans-ocean journeys that the jet was intended to fly.
Aviation experts and government officials say the Federal Aviation Administration may shorten the permitted flying time of the 787 on certain routes when it approves a revamped battery system. The plane was grounded worldwide two months ago after lithium-ion batteries overheated on two separate aircraft.
Losing extended operations, or ETOPS, would deal a blow to Boeing and its airline customers by limiting use of the fuel-saving jet, designed to lower costs on long-distance routes that don't require the capacity of the larger Boeing 777. Such a loss could even lead to cancellation of some routes.
"If the FAA approves (only) over-land operations it would be a very damaging blow to the 787 program," said Scott Hamilton, an aviation analyst with Leeham Co in Seattle.
"Depending on how long that restriction remains in place, it would completely undermine the business case for the airplane, which was to be able to do these long, thin intercontinental routes" over water, he said.
Aviation experts and government officials say the Federal Aviation Administration may shorten the permitted flying time of the 787 on certain routes when it approves a revamped battery system. The plane was grounded worldwide two months ago after lithium-ion batteries overheated on two separate aircraft.
Losing extended operations, or ETOPS, would deal a blow to Boeing and its airline customers by limiting use of the fuel-saving jet, designed to lower costs on long-distance routes that don't require the capacity of the larger Boeing 777. Such a loss could even lead to cancellation of some routes.
"If the FAA approves (only) over-land operations it would be a very damaging blow to the 787 program," said Scott Hamilton, an aviation analyst with Leeham Co in Seattle.
"Depending on how long that restriction remains in place, it would completely undermine the business case for the airplane, which was to be able to do these long, thin intercontinental routes" over water, he said.
Mar 28, 2013 | 11:10 am
#3
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this is a temporary ban on long over water flights. it looks to me like the original certification tests on the batteries are not to be trusted(nice words for faked). until it is proven that the modified batteries will survive under conditions required, faa will not use transcontinental flights for test data.
battery people were telling boeing the design was bad. boeing said they were behind schedule. most pilots(read the pilot BB) are not excited about flying the 787 until proven safe. even there are a number of ft'ers who want to jump on this plane, the pilots do not. a do not follow a FA BB, so i do not know their feelings.
battery people were telling boeing the design was bad. boeing said they were behind schedule. most pilots(read the pilot BB) are not excited about flying the 787 until proven safe. even there are a number of ft'ers who want to jump on this plane, the pilots do not. a do not follow a FA BB, so i do not know their feelings.
