Global aviation industry news

[Admiral Beez]

Boeing 737 cracks: Ryanair grounds three planes due to cracking between wing and fuselage

Exclusive: budget Irish carrier is the latest airline worldwide to be affected by ‘pickle fork’ cracking, but has not disclosed the problem

Naaman Zhou
Wed 6 Nov 2019 05.00 GMT Last modified on Wed 6 Nov 2019 05.03 GMT

Ryanair 737 cracks: airline grounds three Boeing planes due to cracking between wing and fuselage

Exclusive: budget Irish carrier is the latest airline worldwide to be affected by ‘pickle fork’ cracking, but has not disclosed the problem

www.theguardian.com

I think this is normal wear and tear. Ryanair planes make far more take off and landings than most airlines, so they wear out their planes faster. Sounds like the system worked, with planes being inspected for wear, cracking found and planes grounded.

 

[Admiral Beez]

When I fly, if I see it's a 737 Max I will rest easy, as surely no other aircraft then flying will have gone through so much inspection and review.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I think this is normal wear and tear. Ryanair planes make far more take off and landings than most airlines, so they wear out their planes faster. Sounds like the system worked, with planes being inspected for wear, cracking found and planes grounded.

Yes and no - the issue was caught, but my understanding is that they problem cropped up much earlier than expected.

AoD

 

[Admiral Beez]

I'm flying Aer Lingus soon, never flown them before. It's a funny name for an airline, reminds me of Dolores from Seinfeld.

 

[kEiThZ]

When I fly, if I see it's a 737 Max I will rest easy, as surely no other aircraft then flying will have gone through so much inspection and review.

And you'd be the person who has more confidence in it than some of the crews operating the thing.

They may fix the stall protection system (MCAS). But it hasn't addressed so many the fundamental issues persisting as a result of grandfathering. Controls still run with cables instead of fly-by-wire. No redundancy (with multiple voting) on Angle of Attack sensors. Engines mounted in direct contravention of certification requirements for handling, resulting in aerodynamics at a high angle of attack that may exacerbate stall conditions.

Would I fly on it after certified? Sure. But I'll do my best to avoid it. If only because I want to show airlines in my small way, that I value my life more than the handful of dollars they saved buying a plane whose fundamental design is over a half century old.

 

[AlbertC]

A Boeing 777 lands safely back in Los Angeles after flames shoot from an engine

By Jason Hanna and Ryan Prior, CNN
Updated 9:22 AM EST, Fri November 22, 2019

Flames sparked intermittently from an engine on a Philippines-bound passenger jet as it took off from Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday morning, causing a few tense minutes for passengers until it landed safely back at the airport.

A Boeing 777 lands safely back in Los Angeles after flames shoot from an engine

Passenger Adam Taylor meant to record his toddler daughter's reaction to takeoff. He got that and more, capturing flashes outside a window as his daughter looks around stoically.

www.cnn.com

 

[AlbertC]

Boeing 777X fuselage split during September stress test

SeattleReuters
Published November 27, 2019

Boeing 777X fuselage split during September stress test

The 777X is due to fly for the first time in early 2020, with the first jet on track to be delivered to an airline in 2021, Boeing has said

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[lenaitch]

Boeing 777X fuselage split during September stress test

SeattleReuters
Published November 27, 2019

Boeing 777X fuselage split during September stress test

The 777X is due to fly for the first time in early 2020, with the first jet on track to be delivered to an airline in 2021, Boeing has said

www.theglobeandmail.com

The way I've been reading the coverage, Boeing's initial response was that a cargo door failed, and since it 'almost' passed (99% of 1.5x over stress) then they consider it a pass. It seems the damage is more than first released. If the industry standard is 1.5, then a fail is a fail. One would think they would be a tad more sensitive to marginal performance these days.

from the Daily Mail:

 

[AlbertC]

United Airlines replaces Boeing jets with Airbus

The American airline plans to replace an aging fleet of Boeing aircraft with new, medium-range Airbus jets. The agreement between United and Airbus deals another blow to Boeing after its 737 Max controversy.

United Airlines replaces Boeing jets with Airbus – DW – 12/04/2019

The American airline plans to replace an aging fleet of Boeing aircraft with new, medium-range Airbus jets. The agreement between United and Airbus deals another blow to Boeing after its 737 Max controversy.

www.dw.com

 

[AlbertC]

Air Canada ranked one of the worst major airlines for passenger satisfaction

Tyler Jadah | Dec 4 2019, 9:29 am

Air Canada ranks one of the worst major airlines for passenger satisfaction | Venture

According to consumer insight company J.D. Power, Air Canada has ranked as one of the worst airlines in the world when it comes to customer satisfaction.

dailyhive.com

 

[Johnny Au]

Air Canada ranked one of the worst major airlines for passenger satisfaction

Tyler Jadah | Dec 4 2019, 9:29 am

Air Canada ranks one of the worst major airlines for passenger satisfaction | Venture

According to consumer insight company J.D. Power, Air Canada has ranked as one of the worst airlines in the world when it comes to customer satisfaction.

dailyhive.com

At least Air Canada doesn't break guitars or kick a Vietnamese-American pulmonologist out, unlike a certain non-divided airline.

 

[jje1000]

I never found Air Canada to be awful, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a Flag Carrier.

Sort of bland, middle-of-the-trail stuff.

 

[AlbertC]

Bombardier building the world's "most advanced aircraft manufacturing" facility in Toronto

DH Toronto Staff | Dec 5 2019, 6:47 am

Bombardier has announced that it has signed a long-term lease with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to build its new “state-of-the art Global Manufacturing Centre” at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The first production is set to start in 2023, and Bombardier said “the cutting-edge facility will optimize final assembly operations for all Global business jets, including the industry flagship Global 7500 business jet.”

Bombardier building world's most advanced aircraft manufacturing facility | Urbanized

Bombardier has announced that it has signed a long-term lease with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) ) to build its Global Manufacturing Centre.

dailyhive.com

 

[AlbertC]

Canadian airlines to feel the pinch of Boeing 737 Max 8 production suspension

The Canadian Press December 17, 2019

Canadian airlines to feel the pinch of Boeing 737 Max 8 production suspension

Boeing Co.'s suspension of the 737 Max production line will mean further headaches for Canadian airlines, which were counting on the grounded jetliner to carry more passengers and boost profit margins.The Chicago-based aerospace company announced Monday that it will temporarily stop producing its

ca.finance.yahoo.com

 

[AlbertC]

Boeing fires CEO Muilenburg as 737 MAX crisis deepens

Business News
December 23, 2019

Boeing fires CEO Muilenburg to restore confidence amid 737 crisis

Boeing Co has fired Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg after repeatedly failing to contain the fallout from a pair of fatal crashes that halted output of its best-selling jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators.

www.reuters.com