WASHINGTON: The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating claims made by a Boeing engineer who says that sections of the fuselage of the 787 Dreamliner are improperly mounted collectively and will break aside mid-flight after 1000’s of journeys. The engineer, Sam Salehpour, who labored on the airplane, detailed his allegations in interviews with NYT and in paperwork despatched to FAA.
Salehpour, who has labored at Boeing for over a decade, stated the issues stemmed from modifications in how the large sections had been fitted and mounted collectively within the meeting line. The airplane’s fuselage is available in a number of items, all from totally different producers, and they don’t seem to be precisely the identical form the place they match collectively, he stated. Salehpour noticed shortcuts used to scale back bottlenecks throughout 787 meeting course of that positioned “extreme stress on main airplane joints, and embedded drilling particles between key joints on greater than 1,000 planes”, his legal professionals stated.
Boeing stated it was “absolutely assured in 787 Dreamliner”, including that “these claims about structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and don’t symbolize the great work Boeing has finished to make sure the standard and long-term security of the plane.”
Salehpour’s allegations add one other component to the extraordinary scrutiny that Boeing has been dealing with since a door panel blew off a 737 Max jet throughout an Alaska Airways flight in early Jan, elevating questions concerning the firm’s manufacturing practices. Since then, the plane-maker has introduced a management overhaul, and the justice division has begun a felony investigation.
Salehpour’s issues are set to obtain an airing on Capitol Hill. US Senate’s homeland safety and governmental affairs committee’s investigations subcommittee is planning to carry a listening to with Salehpour on April 17.
The Dreamliner is a wide-body jet that’s extra gasoline environment friendly than many different plane used for lengthy journeys, partially due to its light-weight composite building. First delivered in 2011, the twin-aisle airplane has each racked up orders for Boeing and created complications for the corporate. For years, the plane-maker has handled a succession of points involving the jet, together with battery issues that led to the short-term grounding of 787s all over the world and high quality issues that extra lately brought on an prolonged halt in deliveries.
Boeing has additionally confronted a slew of issues at its plant in South Carolina the place the Dreamliner is constructed. A distinguished Boeing whistleblower who raised issues about manufacturing practices on the plant, John Barnett, was discovered lifeless final month with what gave the impression to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Salehpour, who has labored at Boeing for over a decade, stated the issues stemmed from modifications in how the large sections had been fitted and mounted collectively within the meeting line. The airplane’s fuselage is available in a number of items, all from totally different producers, and they don’t seem to be precisely the identical form the place they match collectively, he stated. Salehpour noticed shortcuts used to scale back bottlenecks throughout 787 meeting course of that positioned “extreme stress on main airplane joints, and embedded drilling particles between key joints on greater than 1,000 planes”, his legal professionals stated.
Boeing stated it was “absolutely assured in 787 Dreamliner”, including that “these claims about structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and don’t symbolize the great work Boeing has finished to make sure the standard and long-term security of the plane.”
Salehpour’s allegations add one other component to the extraordinary scrutiny that Boeing has been dealing with since a door panel blew off a 737 Max jet throughout an Alaska Airways flight in early Jan, elevating questions concerning the firm’s manufacturing practices. Since then, the plane-maker has introduced a management overhaul, and the justice division has begun a felony investigation.
Salehpour’s issues are set to obtain an airing on Capitol Hill. US Senate’s homeland safety and governmental affairs committee’s investigations subcommittee is planning to carry a listening to with Salehpour on April 17.
The Dreamliner is a wide-body jet that’s extra gasoline environment friendly than many different plane used for lengthy journeys, partially due to its light-weight composite building. First delivered in 2011, the twin-aisle airplane has each racked up orders for Boeing and created complications for the corporate. For years, the plane-maker has handled a succession of points involving the jet, together with battery issues that led to the short-term grounding of 787s all over the world and high quality issues that extra lately brought on an prolonged halt in deliveries.
Boeing has additionally confronted a slew of issues at its plant in South Carolina the place the Dreamliner is constructed. A distinguished Boeing whistleblower who raised issues about manufacturing practices on the plant, John Barnett, was discovered lifeless final month with what gave the impression to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
