Pilots reveal safety fears over Boeing's fleet of Dreamliners

[Eugene]

Source: The Observer

Pilots reveal safety fears over Boeing’s fleet of Dreamliners

Company admits that fire extinguisher switch has failed a ‘small number’ of times

Anna Tims
Sat 15 Jun 2019 17.18 BST Last modified on Sat 15 Jun 2019 18.22 BST

Airline pilots have voiced fears over the safety of a fleet of Boeing aircraft after a crucial fire-fighting system has been found to have the potential to malfunction.

Boeing has issued an alert to airlines using its flagship B787 Dreamliner, warning that the switch used to extinguish an engine fire has failed in a “small number” of instances. The switch also severs the fuel supply and the hydraulic fluid to prevent flames spreading.

UK airlines Tui, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate more than 60 Dreamliners between them. The US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has decided not to ground the fleet, despite admitting a “risk to the flying public”.

Pilots, however, claim that the safety of passengers and crew is being compromised. “If there was an engine fire on a transatlantic flight and the aircraft had one of the defective fire switches, then we would have to fly with a burning wing for up to three hours before we could safely land,” a pilot with a British airline told the Observer.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/15/boeing-dreamliner-b787-safety-fears

[cwydro]

1. I think I'm going to have to look into what airlines don't fly Boeings.

This is pretty alarming, especially added to the 737 Max issue.