Diverted Dreamliners high-profile but not abnormal
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner has taken a public-relations beating this year, with three diverted flights in the past week adding to the headache, but experts and data suggest the most recent issues are not uncommon in aviation.
The 787 recently began flying again after a series of problems with its lithium-ion batteries grounded the plane for three months. ButUnited Airlines— the onlyU.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner— said the recent diverted flights on its 787s had to do with oil-filter or brake-system indicators unrelated to the batteries.
“This is something that is very normal. What is not normal is thatwe are all so nervous about the 787,” said Hans Weber, president of TECOP International, an aviation consulting firm. “We have to consider that this is happening frequently, andwe never hear about it. But the 787 is really under a microscope.”
According to theU.S. Department ofTransportation, there have been nearly 4,000 diverted flights in the United States in 2013.
This figure, however, includes weather- and medical-related incidents and does not specify the number that resulted in emergency landings because of mechanical or electrical issues.
The Denver Post obtained separate data from the Federal Aviation Administration that reveal at least 74 incidents of emergency landings or flight diversions since January 2012 thatwere specifically related to mechanical or electrical issues— including loss of hydraulics, unresponsive landing gear, smoke in the cockpit and engine shutdown.
While the FAA investigates mechanical issues resulting in diversions or emergency landings, it does not have a specific data category for them but provided the incident data upon request.
The past week’s mechanical and electrical problems occurred on United 787s and involved two oil-filter issues and one brake-system issue.
“They assessed (the aircraft) and were able to get them all back in service,” United spokeswoman MaryRyan said. “They are all unrelated to one another, and they are definitely all unrelated to the battery issue earlier in the year.”
While none of the diverted flights suggests a major design flaw, much of the traveling public is unclear of the safety implications.
“These are relativelysmallandisolatedincidents. They are just a hassle, and they are going to be resolved bit by bit as the aircraft proves itself,” said Richard Aboulafia, an aircraft analyst for the Teal Group. “The battery is still somewhat of a concern for me. But Idon’t think it’s a safetyissue asmuchas aneconomicissue— wedon’tknowwhat the swapout rate on those (battery) cells is going to be.”
Experts suggest the 787 problems are broadcast because it is a new aircraft.
“Imyself have been on a flight that made an unscheduled landing because of an oil indicator,” Weber said. “Thatwas on the 737, which recently had a rash of oil problems thatwas traced back to people not putting the oil caps back on properly.”
As for the oil-filter issues last Tuesday and Thursday, Weber reminds people that those are related to the engine, which is built by two industry behemoths, General Electric andRolls-Royce.
“You can logically realize that these engine manufacturers have those engines on other air- June 11: A Japan Airlines 787 flight returns to Tokyo after taking off for Singapore after a problem with the plane’s anti-ice system was discovered. June 18: A United Airlines 787 flying from Denver to Tokyo is diverted to Seattle after an oil-filter indicator alerted the cockpit of a problem. June 20: Another United Airlines 787 from London to Houston diverts to New York after an oil-filter indicator alerted the cockpit of a problem. June 23: Another United Airlines 787 en route to Denver returns to Houston, where it took off from, following a brake-system indicator alert. craft,” Weber said.
While experts suggest the scrutiny on the 787 may be exaggerated, Aboulafia acknowledged that the public’s skittishness is not completely unfounded considering that the 787 is one of only three fleets to have been grounded worldwide since the advent of modern aviation.