The 787 many problems are first and foremost, results of architectural-design errors made years ago. Boeing specified way too many new technologies and components whose sole purpose is to reduce cost. Not to deliver greater customer satisfaction. Then to compound this, Boeing decided to subcontract out the engineering-build of just about the whole aircraft. These contracts were awarded all over the world, selecting many who has little aerospace experience, and therefore can low-bid. Boeing management figured their job is simply to assemble parts together and laugh all the way to be bank.It’s all about doing the least work, using the cheapest or newest parts – a by-now standard and uniquely American management style to deliver the maximum possible profit. Look what happened to HP – it doesn’t make stuff anymore. It put labels on other people’s stuff. This is also the 787 Dreamliner.
The 787 is a pure electrical plane, requiring a huge power plant. But to get such a plant going, it needs a huge battery bank. Instead of using try-and-true (and aviation certified) NiCd battery, Boeing picked notorious lithium-ion, with a reputation of catching fire in notebook. Why? Yup – cut cost and weight. This battery is now the subject to the Japan fleet grounding. Boeing care more about profit then safety.
When Boeing called its new liner the Dreamliner, the name came from top management. It’s supposed to be a dream for them – their balance sheet and big bonus.
I am a pilot but not commercial, much less airline.
Taking away the feel and control of an airplane is not, in my opinion, a good idea.
This may be an example of the Peter Principle.
I was a major airline mechanic for 25 years and don’t remember an airline grounding its own fleet, normally it’s the FAA that’s does that while the airline fights it.
Sounds like the new lithium ion battery or its charger is defective and should be pulled from service. I applaud Japan’s two carriers for taking action.
The other mechanicals that have been in the news are just growing pains and should be of no major concern.
Another major concern is the new GEnx engine that powers some 787 and 747 aircraft. The fan midshaft has fractured causing major damage and removal of the engine.
“a pure electrical plane, requiring a huge power plant. But to get such a plant going, it needs a huge battery bank”
Maybe the problem is also partly getting a good ground.
Hard to get a ground on an AIRplane, and the lightweight metals used in airframes aren’t as good a conductor. Maybe abrupt changes in atmospheric ionization come into play in this circumstance.
Sort of like when Corvettes started using fiberglass bodies - they had electrical problems because of a crappy ground.
So maybe they overdid the electric on this one.
Who at JAL is sabotaging Boeing’s Dreamliner? Inquiring minds want to know.
Too many unknowns: Even though the technologies have been
tested under “lab” conditions, we are going to see more
failures under real flight conditions. As the flight hours
build up, I predict problems with the new non-metal material.
Boeing has the MBA/PMP manager mentality. MBA/PMP types with no engineering, aviation, or Boeing experience run the place. They have an MBA and a 12 week wonder project manager certificate and are given jobs making critical decisions and they know nothing about the consequences of their decisions.
Engineers are looked down on at Boeing as the MBA/PMP types protects their turf. Somewhere I can guarnatee you there is one or more engineers that submitted change requests to fix that battery problem and somewhere there is an MBA manager that had no idea what they were talking about but denied the change request.