This week has seen another trio of operational problems causing headaches for manufacturers and operators of the Dreamliner 787. All Nippon Airways (ANA), who have the world’s largest fleet of 27 787s, was forced to ground two flights due to technical faults, while Japan Airlines - currently the second largest Dreamliner operator - also cancelled a flight to Singapore. The latest incident saw ANA forced to cancel a domestic Japanese flight yesterday after one of the engines failed to start.
It is only the latest in a series of technical faults to affect the beleaguered Boeing crafts, estimated to cost around €155 million per unit. Development began in the early 2000s, and Boeing had poured in excess of €24 billion into the new model’s development before it even began operating in 2011.
Designed using composite metals, and built to be more fuel efficient than existing aircraft, one of Boeing’s main goals was to provide a more economically practical and environmentally friendly option for long-haul flights.
ANA became the first airline to start their 787 service in 2011, followed by several other airlines in Europe, Africa, Asia and Europe. Boeing have so far only delivered 57 of the almost 900 ordered aircraft, with a vast majority of currently completed models going to the two Japanese airliners.
Problems and groundings
The early years of regular 787 service have, however, seen the Dreamliners suffer from various operational faults and safety concerns, including reported fuel leaks. The most significant issues were related to the plane’s lithium-ion battery design.
Several battery fires and related incidents led to ANA and Japan Airlines grounding their entire fleets in January this year until the safety concerns were addressed. The American Federal Aviation Administration soon advised other airlines to also suspend their 787 services.
The world’s fleet of Dreamliners were grounded until late April, when a new battery design was approved by the FAA. The four-month suspension was estimated to have cost ANA alone close to €1 million a day. Ethiopian Airlines became the first organisation to re-commence flights on 27th April, and the two Japanese operators had been given the all clear the previous day.
The slow introduction of the 787 Dreamliner has been far from smooth flying, even after a costly four month redesign. Boeing, as well as the airlines awaiting the delivery of the other 800 planes, will be hoping that the latest operational problems and safety scares are isolated incidents rather than the development of another trend. Dreams can very quickly become nightmares.
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