Boeing safety claims investigated
Discussion
Dynamite! FAA/Boeing conspiracy-nothing new here, move along,move along!!!
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2010/1...
An Al Jazeera documentary has raised serious questions about official investigations into the safety of more than 1,500 of the most commonly-used passenger planes in the world.
Boeing's 737NG is flown by more than 150 airlines worldwide, but for more than 10 years whistleblowers who used to work for Boeing have raised serious doubts about the manufacture of key structural parts for many of the planes.
The parts in question are called "chords" and "bear straps": the chords make up the ribs of the aircraft fuselage and the bear straps are huge sheets which reinforce the exits and doorways on the fuselage.
The whistleblowers have made claims in a US court that the parts – made by a sub-contractor for Boeing between 1996 and 2004 - were ill-fitting and illegal, but that Boeing used many of them to build the aircraft.
Aviation experts working with these whistleblowers tell the programme that the problem with these parts could lead to a "catastrophic failure" of aircraft fitted with them.
Allegations dismissed
PEOPLE AND POWER
On a wing and a prayer
Boeing has dismissed the allegations as "without merit", and the American Federal Aviation Administration – which regulates the US aircraft industry - has supported Boeing.
But a year-long investigation by Al Jazeera's People & Power series has uncovered a draft internal Boeing memorandum which appears to contradict Boeing’s assertion and, instead, supports the whistleblowers’ allegations.
The document warns that the problem highlighted by the whistleblowers "poses a quality risk to the production of quality airplane parts" and that the "integrity" of the sub-contractor places Boeing itself "at risk".
The programme has also found evidence which calls into question how thoroughly the FAA investigated the alleged problems. It reveals information contained in the files of another US federal agency – the Defence Criminal Investigative Service – which appears to support some of the whistleblowers’ claims.
The documentary features testimony by the whistleblowers, their lawyer and aviation safety experts working with them that the US government itself has covered up some of this evidence – and that it appears to be assisting Boeing in the federal court case.
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2010/1...
An Al Jazeera documentary has raised serious questions about official investigations into the safety of more than 1,500 of the most commonly-used passenger planes in the world.
Boeing's 737NG is flown by more than 150 airlines worldwide, but for more than 10 years whistleblowers who used to work for Boeing have raised serious doubts about the manufacture of key structural parts for many of the planes.
The parts in question are called "chords" and "bear straps": the chords make up the ribs of the aircraft fuselage and the bear straps are huge sheets which reinforce the exits and doorways on the fuselage.
The whistleblowers have made claims in a US court that the parts – made by a sub-contractor for Boeing between 1996 and 2004 - were ill-fitting and illegal, but that Boeing used many of them to build the aircraft.
Aviation experts working with these whistleblowers tell the programme that the problem with these parts could lead to a "catastrophic failure" of aircraft fitted with them.
Allegations dismissed
PEOPLE AND POWER
On a wing and a prayer
Boeing has dismissed the allegations as "without merit", and the American Federal Aviation Administration – which regulates the US aircraft industry - has supported Boeing.
But a year-long investigation by Al Jazeera's People & Power series has uncovered a draft internal Boeing memorandum which appears to contradict Boeing’s assertion and, instead, supports the whistleblowers’ allegations.
The document warns that the problem highlighted by the whistleblowers "poses a quality risk to the production of quality airplane parts" and that the "integrity" of the sub-contractor places Boeing itself "at risk".
The programme has also found evidence which calls into question how thoroughly the FAA investigated the alleged problems. It reveals information contained in the files of another US federal agency – the Defence Criminal Investigative Service – which appears to support some of the whistleblowers’ claims.
The documentary features testimony by the whistleblowers, their lawyer and aviation safety experts working with them that the US government itself has covered up some of this evidence – and that it appears to be assisting Boeing in the federal court case.
hidetheelephants said:
Have the Black Helicopters(TM) arrived yet?
Sadly, the Pave Loony programme (adapting the stock UH-60 to pander to conspiracy theorists by painting it Humbrol 33 matt black and installing a tinfoil dispenser in the rear cabin) was cancelled after running 200 million dollars over budget - initial budget 50 thousand dollars - and five years late.Edited by eharding on Sunday 2nd January 00:19
Hmm serious points, I'd also be concerned about how rigged were the 787 certification tests myself........as for the much heralded fuel tank inerting system (because they can't bond [eletrically] the wing tanks) and that they have applied to the FAA for a TWO WEEK MEL exclusion authorisation ??????????
Mojocvh said:
Hmm serious points, I'd also be concerned about how rigged were the 787 certification tests myself........as for the much heralded fuel tank inerting system (because they can't bond [eletrically] the wing tanks) and that they have applied to the FAA for a TWO WEEK MEL exclusion authorisation ??????????
What's stopping them bonding the tanks?patent infringement last time I heard. Sanitized version linked below.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/20...
"As a result, fasteners were installed with stacks of washers as a work around for the improper length, forcing Boeing to publicly concede that thousands had to be removed and replaced to incorporate the proper design. Airbus also believes that Boeing's fastener solution "infringes a BAE patent owned by Airbus," though it is not known if Airbus has acted upon this alleged breach of intellectual property."
Here's more on Boeing.
http://www.thelastinspector.com/
Not good.
Having seen the pressures that managers can bring to bear directly and indirectly on inspectors (no individual org btw) it's not a job I'd want, I'll stay on the tools.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/20...
"As a result, fasteners were installed with stacks of washers as a work around for the improper length, forcing Boeing to publicly concede that thousands had to be removed and replaced to incorporate the proper design. Airbus also believes that Boeing's fastener solution "infringes a BAE patent owned by Airbus," though it is not known if Airbus has acted upon this alleged breach of intellectual property."
Here's more on Boeing.
http://www.thelastinspector.com/
Not good.
Having seen the pressures that managers can bring to bear directly and indirectly on inspectors (no individual org btw) it's not a job I'd want, I'll stay on the tools.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff