Posted on 05/23/2024 10:07:18 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a fault in 292 U.S.-registered Boeing 777 aircraft, chiefly operated by United and American Airlines, that could cause their jet engines to discharge electrostatic energy into their fuel tanks and blow them up mid-air.
The FAA proposed an ‘Airworthiness Directive’ in March, “prompted by a determination that the nitrogen enriched air distribution system (NEADS) cover plate assembly attached to a certain vent stringer in the center wing tank [of certain Boeing 777 aircraft] was installed without a designed electrical bond.”
The air regulator explains that the “accumulation of electrostatic charge in the cover plate assembly and the float valve assembly” as a result of the fault “could lead to electrostatic discharge to the surrounding structure.”
“This condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion,” the FAA warns.
Boeing and parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems have been plagued by scandals in recent months. Multiple aircraft have lost doors mid-air, dropped tires, and hurt passengers after violent movements caused by “technical events.”
An FAA audit failed Boeing and Spirit on dozens of product audits as these issues were becoming widely reported, with whistleblowers stepping forward alleging they were raising serious safety concerns internally and being ignored.
Two of these whistleblowers have died suddenly, including one, John Barnett, deemed to have fatally shot himself after telling friends, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”
Boeing insiders allege standards are falling as a result of “politicized” Human Resources (HR) directives pushing “anti-excellence” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.However, the FAA has also been pressuring the aviation industry to push DEI policies, not only for women and ethnic minorities but for people with “psychiatric disability” and even “severe intellectual disability.”
But the whole point of the NEADS system is to fill the airspace inside of the aircraft's fuel tanks with inert Nitrogen, so that a TWA 800-like fuel tank explosion wouldn't happen again. (If it ever happened at all...)
So the danger of an electrostatic spark inside a Nitrogen-inerted tank carrying low volatility Jet A fuel, is as close to nil as humanly possible.
The days of “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going” are over.
It’s now “If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going.”
Can you still buy travel insurance at the airport?
In statements to The Independent on Thursday, the FAA said there was not an immediate safety risk to flights, and Boeing said the standard regulatory process had been “sensationalized”.
“The FAA bases its airworthiness directive timelines on the risk involved. If the agency determines something is an urgent issue, it requires immediate action,” an aviation regulatory source told The Independent.
“The proposed Boeing 777 airworthiness directive would give operators a certain amount of time to make the fixes that Boeing described in its November 2023 alert.”
In an email, Boeing described the Daily Mail’s original story as “misleading and reckless”.
“It makes incorrect connections and sensationalizes the standard regulatory process that has helped ensure air travel is the safest form of transportation,” the aircraft manufacturer said. “This is not an immediate safety of flight issue. There are multiple redundancies designed into modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection for electromagnetic effects. The 777 fleet has been operating for nearly 30 years, and has safely flown more than 3.9 billion passengers.”
yahoo.news
“The days of “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going” are over.
It’s now “If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going.””
Once again the NP succeeds on with its scandalous click-bait!
Now “Smoking or Non-Smoking” has a new meaning.
In the meantime there are psy-ops forces shaping news stories to shake and rattle opinions on safety to scare you out of flying.
Facts are that per number of flight miles flown, aviation has never been safer.
All true. However the headline readers have crashed Boeing stock today by $11 a share. And we have our own freepers on that bandwagon.
Ridiculous. The old FR would home in on the facts and details, not the hysteria.
Headline wrong. This isn’t a jet engine fault, which would be a problem for a jet engine manufacturer, but a fuels system fault, which is Boeing’s fault. How far the mighty have fallen.
Once again the NP succeeds on with its scandalous click-bait!
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What you say has nothing to do with what I said.
Now look to see who sold short.
If it’s going from the engine to the tank, Then this is the aircraft manufacturer issue, Not the engine manufacturer
I recall airline pilots scoffing at the “fuel tank explosion” explanation which was offered to cover up the shoot down. They knew that the partially empty tank would be full of fumes and no oxygen could get in. No oxygen, no explosion.
Yes, a good time to buy. Boeing is NOT going to go away!!
As of this time, it’s down 7.3%.
Aren’t most jet engine manufactured by GE or Rolls Royce for commercial liners.
Buy low, sell high.
Among the facts is that over decades, Boeing destroyed its reputation.
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