Boenig halted shipments of the 787 Dreamliner in November for the first time since its launch, excluding the out-of-service May 2020. The reason was multiple liner defects, writes The Wall Street Journal .
According to the sources of the publication, the aircraft have problems with the smoothness of the surface of the carbon-composite fuselage. At first, it was only about the tail, but later they began to be found everywhere. In early December, a company spokesman acknowledged the need for additional aircraft inspections, but did not explain why.
Irregularities lead to small gaps between sections, which, in turn, reduces the shelf life of the entire structure, so the board requires more frequent repairs. The defect is related to the quality of assembly at the company’s factories.
Meanwhile, engineers Boeing , and specialists from the US Civil Aviation Administration (FAA) assure that defects do not affect flight safety. It is only about the increase in the cost of maintenance after the transfer to the airlines. How many of these fuselage defects were found is not specified.
Earlier, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recognized Boeing 737 MAX safe after the revision.