NEW YORK, Sept 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Boeing has suspended testing on its new
long-haul 777X aircraft, the company said Friday, a setback that comes as it
battles to rebound from the crisis surrounding the 737 MAX.
The so-called “final load” tests are part of the aircraft certification
process, overseen by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), and meant to subject the plane to “loads and stresses well beyond
normal operational loads,” a Boeing spokesman told AFP in an email.
“During final load testing on the 777X static test airplane, the team
encountered an issue that required suspension of the test,” the spokesman
said.
“The testing conditions were well beyond any load expected in commercial
service. The event is under review and the team is working to understand root
cause.”
A source close to the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said a
door of the plane blew out during the test.
Such an occurrence is rare during final load testing, an industry source
said.
The 777X was originally scheduled to take off on its first test flight this
summer. That date has been postponed until early 2020 by Boeing, due to
problems with its General Electric engine.
The company spokesman declined to say whether the latest setback would
further delay the schedule.
The FAA investigates issues that come up during structural testing of
aircraft, the agency said.
During these tests, the plane is placed under extreme stress to verify its
structural strength. To check the wings, for example, a system of fasteners
are connected which allow examiners to bend them up and down.
Traditionally, these tests push the aircraft to the breaking point
estimated by the manufacturers, and are essential to obtain certification
from regulators.
The suspension of the testing for the 777X comes as Boeing is in the
process of completing changes required by regulators on the 737 MAX, which
has been grounded worldwide after two crashes that resulted in 346 deaths.
Civil aviation authorities have stepped up their inspections since the
disasters, most notably the FAA, which has been accused of cozy ties with
Boeing.
In an effort to reinforce its independence, the US regulator has become
much more detailed and demanding, according to industry sources interviewed
by AFP.
Boeing’s 777X, which is meant to replace the 777 and can carry 400 to 425
passengers, has already been ordered by eight airlines, including Emirates.
It is meant to compete with the A350 of European manufacturer Airbus.
Up until Friday, industry experts had said the first deliveries of the 777X
probably would not take place before 2021 because the test flight period and
approval process should be extended, due to the delays caused by the engine
issue.