Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Energy News .




AEROSPACE
Airlines stand by Dreamliner after Japan groundings
by Staff Writers
Singapore (AFP) Jan 16, 2013


Airlines in Asia and Europe on Wednesday said they stood by their Dreamliner orders, expressing confidence in Boeing's latest plane after it was grounded by Japan's two biggest carriers for safety checks.

The precautionary move in Japan came after an All Nippon Airways Dreamliner on a domestic flight made an emergency landing due to a faulty battery and smoke, the latest in a string of safety scares for the next-generation 787.

Aviation regulators in the United States, Japan and India have launched probes but Boeing insists the plane is safe. And airlines that have bet big on the plane quickly expressed confidence the firm would resolve any issues.

British Airways, which has 24 Dreamliners on order, reaffirmed a statement from last week that it was "committed to taking delivery of the aircraft".

Scoot, a budget long-haul unit of Singapore Airlines, said there was no change to its order for 20 of the high-tech aircraft.

"Boeing has kept us fully informed about the performance of the 787 since we committed to acquire the aircraft," the company said in a statement.

"We are confident that Boeing's ongoing performance monitoring and external review process will identify and resolve any issues, and look forward to taking delivery of our first 787 on schedule in late 2014."

Australia's Qantas said it was confident that any problems would be resolved before it took delivery of 15 Dreamliner jets destined for its low-cost offshoot Jetstar in the second half of this year.

Korean Air, which has 10 B787-9 planes on order, said it carried out stringent tests before putting any new aircraft into service and it still intended to operate the Dreamliner from late 2016.

"Problems are bound to occur when new aircraft are being developed and put into operation. Recent problems involving the B787 are no different," a Korean Air spokesman said.

"The B787-9 model we are about to put into service beginning late 2016... is better than any other aircraft in terms of efficiency and safety and will have no problems operating."

Wednesday's incident followed a fire on a Japan Airlines (JAL) aircraft last week after it landed in Boston, two fuel leaks on another JAL Dreamliner and a cracked cockpit window that forced the cancellation of a Dreamliner flight in Japan.

Both ANA and JAL said they would ground their entire 787 fleets for safety checks through Thursday at least.

But ANA -- the Dreamliner's launch customer in 2011 -- said it was sticking to its plan to roll out the plane across its fleet. It has ordered 66 so far.

The fuel-efficient Dreamliner has been coveted in Asia to combat soaring energy costs. JAL has another 38 of the planes on order.

Air China has ordered 15 of the planes, while China Southern and Hainan Airlines await deliveries of 10 each.

There was no comment immediately available from the trio, but a smaller Chinese carrier -- Xiamen Airlines -- said it still wanted the six Dreamliners it has ordered from Boeing.

Air India has taken delivery of five already, but said it would keep flying them as India's aviation regulator investigates the safety issues that have arisen in Japan.

Among other Asia-Pacific customers for the Boeing 787, Indonesia's Lion Air, Air New Zealand and Vietnam Airlines all declined comment.

burs-sr-jit/jms

.


Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








AEROSPACE
Lockheed Martin Highlights F-35 Program Achievements for 2012
Fort Worth, TX (SPX) Jan 16, 2013
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Program completed 30 aircraft deliveries and achieved significant advances in flight test highlighting a year of continued progress for 2012. The 30 F-35 deliveries in 2012 included 11 Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOLs), 18 Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) variants, and one Carrier Variant (CV). Two of the STOVLs were the program's first tw ... read more


AEROSPACE
Renewable energy on increase but 2030 target in doubt

First world atlas on renewable energy launched

Major cuts to surging CO2 emissions are needed now, not down the road

Three new state-of-the-art power plants improve efficiency, reduce emissions

AEROSPACE
North Sea oil pipeline system shut after platform leak: operator

China to survey disputed Diaoyu Islands

Chilean methanol plant idled by gas cuts

Iraq oil cut fuels Jordan political unrest

AEROSPACE
Japan plans world's largest wind farm

China revs up wind power amid challenges

Algonquin Power Buys 109 MW Shady Oaks Wind Power Facility

British group pans wind farm compensation

AEROSPACE
Sempra US Gas and Power Energizes First Phase Of Arizona Solar Project

Duke Energy Renewables completes Black Mountain Solar Project in Arizona

Government incentives speed up installation of utility-scale solar power plants

Cedarville University Announces Large Solar Power Installation

AEROSPACE
Turkey and France to resume nuclear plant talks: minister

Regulator wants more info before clearing Belgian reactors

Westinghouse Achieves Milestones For World's First Ap1000 Nuclear Power Plants

Malaysia nuclear plan delayed: official

AEROSPACE
US Ag Sec Visits Renmatix For Plant-To-Sugar Facility Commissioning

Synthesis Energy Achieves First Methanol Production at Yima JV

Lower nitrogen losses with perennial biofuel crops

California Ethanol Producer Pacific Ethanol Stockton Partners with Edeniq to Expand Production

AEROSPACE
Mr Xi in Space

China plans manned space launch in 2013: state media

China to launch manned spacecraft

Tiangong 1 Parked And Waiting As Shenzhou 10 Mission Prep Continues

AEROSPACE
NASA Finds 2012 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend

Global warming beneficial to ratsnakes

Climate laws advancing in many countries: survey

Urgent CO2 cuts may spare millions hardship: report




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement