On Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:02:16 PM UTC-5, Transition Zone wrote:
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:23:55 -0500
Local: Thurs, Dec 23 2010 9:23 pm
JF Mezei wrote:
On December 23rd, Boeing announced it is now resuming flight testing on
ZA004.
They have updated the power distrubution *software* and will test this,
along with deployment of RAT before resuming normal testing for
certification.
So it appears that the hammer that was left in some electrical cabinet
probably highlighted some software problems. Thankfully, updating
software is less tedious than having to dismantly, change a part and
reassemble the number of 787s already built.
A Week Boeing Would Like To Forget
By Alex Zolbert, CNN, updated 2:01 PM EST, Thu January 10, 2013
More concerns for Dreamliner - (CNN) -- Some passengers pay no
attention to what type of airplane they'll be flying on. Others are
obsessed.
I'd put myself in the middle of the pack, mainly due to the new planes
on offer from Airbus and Boeing.
So I was in slightly better spirits this week, as I boarded the 11-
hour United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo this week.
It was my first chance to fly on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
But the trip quickly descended into -- certainly not a nightmare --
but definitely a headache.
Dreamliner catches fire at airport
It's a drill millions of travelers know all too well.
After starting the taxi out to the runway Monday morning, we were
informed that there was an issue with the computer system, and they
were unable to start one of the plane's engines. We remained onboard
for nearly 3 hours, as flight attendants sheepishly offered cups of
water to frustrated passengers.
Eventually we disembarked.
A delay of four hours turned into five, then six, seven ... and the
flight was eventually canceled.
We then had the pleasure of spending the night at an airport hotel
that seemed to have been last updated around the time commercial air
travel started.
It was then that I realized we weren't the only ones encountering
issues with the Dreamliner on Monday.
A Japan Airlines' 787 caught fire in Boston after passengers
disembarked.
Boeing said the fire was traced to a battery unit that helps to power
electrical systems when the engines are idle -- typically while a
plane is being serviced or cleaned. And the company says it's
cooperating with investigators.
As Tuesday morning arrived, we were back on board another United
Airlines' Dreamliner in Los Angeles.
But in a rather comical turn of events, the second plane never left
the gate.
We were told there was an issue with the paperwork filed with the FAA.
More than a day late, many coffees, and very little sleep later, the
third time finally proved to be the charm -- more than 24 hours after
our scheduled departure.
But as we finally took to the skies, more Dreamliner issues were
unfolding.
Another Japan Airlines' 787 in Boston had to scrap a takeoff on
Tuesday due to a fuel leak. And an ANA Dreamliner flight was canceled
in Japan on Wednesday, because of a glitch with its brake system.
But Boeing is standing by its latest aircraft. The company's chief
project engineer, Mike Sinnett, says he is "100% convinced the
airplane is safe to fly."
Analysts seem not to be alarmed, saying that new aircraft models often
have "growing pains."
But what is very clear is this was a week that Boeing would certainly
like to forget.
After a nearly 40-hour trip back home, I'll second that.
-- http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/10/busine...r-los-angeles/
Boeing located their Dreamliner
Manufacturing facility in North Charleston,
S.C. to circumvent the pressure being leveraged
at them by the IAMAW (International Association
of Machinists and Aerospace Workers). By
sidestepping their responsibility of duly
compensating labor and talent, they have
now gotten what they've paid for. There is
a long history in South Carolina of thought
indoctrination which leads to subservience.
This tradition finds it's roots all the
way back to slavery, and cotton-picking.
After the emancipation, share-cropping was
prevalent which was really a different name
for almost the same arrangement. Eventually,
after decades... textile production became
the dominant livelihood. Still, though, the
factories held their workers on a short
leash, even telling them when to go to bed,
what to wear, when to pray and where to live.
Again, not much of a transition.
Today, in 2012 there is a multitude of
industry in South Carolina, but, there
remains a vestige of philosophy that the
worker is the property of the man, that
he keeps his mouth shut and asks no
questions. Unions are seen *by workers* as
inherently bad, yet they can't really tell
you why beyond what they're told to think.
So good luck Boeing. You are a great
corporation, and yes, carbon-fiber was
the right move. When you finally transition
to the blended-body design and electric
propulsion you will have come full circle.
Just remember... you get what you pay for.
Also, I really question the implementation
of JATO bottles for this design and mission.
Whatever dude, use ammonium perchlorate for
best results.
Good night and good luck.
--
Mark