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You are assuming they are relatively normal hairline cracks. They are grounding planes, so the cracks reported here might be different from that. There does not
by runeb 7y ago
You are assuming they are relatively normal hairline cracks. They are grounding planes, so the cracks reported here might be different from that. There does not seem to be enough information to conclude sensationalist news.
- tyingq 7y agoAirlines with many more 737's handled it correctly. Not saying it isn't a crisis. Just saying it's an airline specific crisis, not a Boeing crisis. That's the piling on bit.
- inferiorhuman 7y agoAirlines with many more 737's handled it correctly. Not saying it isn't a crisis. Just saying it's an airline specific crisis, not a Boeing crisis. That's the piling on bit. The AD sets forth two distinct priorities: high cycle and low cycle airframes. Those with higher cycles required near immediate inspection because they are presumably more at risk for these cracks, in airlines with larger fleets inspections of younger frames may not be complete yet. Southwest (owner of the largest 737 fleet in the world) grounded their (two, IIRC) NGs that required inspection sooner and failed that inspection. I don't believe Southwest has finished inspecting the other 600 or so planes in their fleet. Qantas (an airline with an enviable safety record) found cracks in much younger planes than expected (even after the expectations had been lowered from these parts lasting a lifetime to maybe lasting 1/3 that). Qantas took appropriate action, and were another airline to experience these cracks with such young airframes I'd hope they'd ground their NGs too.
- jacquesm 7y agoI'd hope that the Southwest and Qantas findings would cause other airlines to ground their NGs too if their cycle count is similar. Why assume that your aircraft are different?
- tyingq 7y agoFwiw, all MAX are already grounded. As I alluded, the "normal" process works pretty well for cracks. If the MAX fleet needs "crack" attention, it will happen.
- jacquesm 7y agoThe MAX and the NG are different aircraft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_Next_Generation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_Next_Generation
- tyingq 7y agoSure, and the established process will fix it. This is not an MCAS level newsworthy event.
- inferiorhuman 7y agoSure, and the established process will fix it. This is not an MCAS level newsworthy event. Cracked pickle forks are absolutely noteworthy. Qantas flies its 737s in relatively mild weather, has a reputation for technically skilled pilots and excellent maintenance staff. If there were any fleet where you'd expect to find no cracks it would be Qantas. Instead Qantas has found a third NG with cracked pickle forks (out of a total of 33 NGs that required inspection).