Saturday, January 26, 2013

Dreamliner, safety concerns.

Securaplane is an Arizona-based subsidiary of the UK engineering company Meggitt, which said there was no connection between his dismissal and the Dreamliner battery issue according to reports.
The US National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it was speaking to various witnesses including whistleblowers, as a standard “part of the process” in such investigations.
Mr Leon alleged that Securaplane rushed to ship battery charges that he did not believe conformed to specifications and which he believed could have malfunctioned.
A federal administrative judge ultimately dismissed Mr Leon’s complaints and concluded he was fired for misconduct, according to court documents. The Federal Aviation Administration also concluded that the parts he was concerned about were not used in the aircraft as they were prototypes.
He appealed the decision in 2011 but no decision has been reached according to US reports.
All 50 Dreamliners in service remain grounded pending the conclusion of a safety investigation after a series of incidents were reported by Japanese carriers.
Japanese Airlines reported fuel leaks while a pilot flying an All Nippon Airways was forced into an emergency landing outside Tokyo after a the battery flashed an error warning and the cockpit filled with smoke.
A Japan/US safety investigation is still working to identify the cause of the problem with the battery, and a team was dispatched to Securaplane’s Arizona base this week as part of the inquiry.
A spokesman for the NTSB said the investigation into the Dreamliner battery incident was far-reaching: “We’re looking at everything that could have played some role in this battery mishap. There’s a lot yet to learn.”
The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Technology and Transportation has said that it will look into aviation safety in the coming weeks, taking in the 787 problems.
Boeing’s Dreamliner customers have so far supported the aerospace giant saying they have confidence the company will resolve the issue. While Boeing has continued production of the 787, it has suspended deliveries of the aircraft until the issues have been resolved.