AP Exclusive: 3 Boeing 777s have suffered windshield cracks; wiring problem blamed

SFGate ^ | October 6, 2003 | LESLIE MILLER

[Larry Lucido]

Alitalia Flight 610 was over the Atlantic on its Rome-to-New York flight last July when the Boeing 777 seemed to shudder. Passengers smelled smoke.

The cabin crew ran up to the flight deck as passengers screamed, said Bruce Northrup, a New York City banker returning from a wedding with his wife and 15-year-old son. "People were yelling, `Tell us what's going on,"' he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

[Archangelsk]

You should make a movie out of your adventures. :-)

[KansasCanadian]

Yeah, I'm the king of the world

[Central Scrutiniser]

The 900 is a good plane, but I fail to see how a 200 can turn a profit. I think the new Embraer's that Jet Blue are getting are gonna be the best. I also like the 717 a whole lot, gonna be flying one of those on the 747 trip also.

America West is gonna announce a new jet order soon, I really hope they pick up some 757-300's, Boeing is giving them away in an attempt to keep the line open. They have to get a good transcon plane, and I doubt they will go 737-700/800/900 as it is uncommon with their existing 300's.

Don't even get me started about the A321....bleah...

[Archangelsk]

Don't even get me started about the A321....bleah...

Yeah, I've heard. :-)

[Central Scrutiniser]

We had options on them, but they can't do PHX-BOS on a hot day, I nonreved on one once, pretty unremarkable, we taxied next to a TU204, the ripoff of the 757, kinda surreal to see 2 757 ripoffs.

[Archangelsk]

The 900 is a good plane, but I fail to see how a 200 can turn a profit.

Depends on marketing, I guess. I have a friend who just upgraded to Captain (flying Comair) on the 200. He likes the plane, and I know what they pay him, so maybe the profitability is in the reduced overhead.

Inevitably, it's going to come down to a new pay structure as the lines try to increase their margins.

[Archangelsk]

We had options on them, but they can't do PHX-BOS on a hot day

Runway or weight limited?

[Central Scrutiniser]

Weight limited, we'd have to pull pax, or refuel in OMA!

Our first A320's (production numbers in the 50's, they came from the failure of Braniff II "Believe It!") had the lower bypass engines, they ran them PHX-BWI, and they had to make stops a few times, not good. HP is beginning BOS-LAX/SFO and JFK-LAX/SFO soon on the A319, it could get dicey going west in a bad headwind. That's why they need new 757's to replace the junky old ones that have been flying for 15 years and put them on the transcon routes.

[Archangelsk]

it could get dicey going west in a bad headwind

Yeah, no doubt in winter when the jet stream drops down and you're pleading your case with ATC.

[Archangelsk]

That's why they need new 757's to replace the junky old ones that have been flying for 15 years and put them on the transcon routes.

Again, it probably comes down to the bean counters trying to maximize the margin. As long as they can call a platform "regional" (inspite of range) then they can lower the cost of the overhead.

[PAR35]

I've never ridden on an Ilyushin, but your description of the seats and interior sounds like a TU 154. Did the bottom of the seat pull up to allow for additional storage?

[First_Salute]

In December 2000, at Denver, all the 777's of United Airlines were grounded because the forward, starboard hatches leaked. You could see the streaks along the side of the aircraft. Technicians tried opening and closing the hatches, trying to feel their way and determine where they were not closing properly.

They appeared to shut, but they somehow were note completely shut.

Many Boeing and United "suits" paraded back and forth.

I will never fly the 777. I believe it is unsafe in the cold. The nose changes shape enough, to present structural integrity problems at the ports.

No thanks.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Yep, as a result of that Aloha not only scrapped the mishap plane (which was parted out where it sat... Hana, I believe?) but about six others. Hawaiian which flies similar duty cycled in (at the time) McDonnell Douglas equipment, inspected their machines and sent a bunch of them to the knacker's yard too.

The safe landing of Aloha 232 remains one of the all-time great feats of airmanship. It was even made into a TV movie (which was, naturally, all wrong).

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Larry Lucido]

"I've never ridden on an Ilyushin, but your description of the seats and interior sounds like a TU 154. Did the bottom of the seat pull up to allow for additional storage?"

LOL! Lifting the seat cushion was the last thing on my mind. Even if I could have pried my knuckles from the armrest, I would have been afraid that pulling up on the seats might expose holes underneath the fusilage.