Boeing has put its 777-9 test flights on hold following the discovery of a titanium component that did not function as intended during a maintenance inspection. The affected part, which plays a critical role as a mount between the engine and wing pylons of the aircraft, is being replaced. Boeing, headquartered in Virginia, has yet to provide detailed information about the specific nature of the defect.
This titanium component is exclusive to the 777-9, the larger model within Boeing’s 777X series. The aircraft is equipped with GE Aerospace's state-of-the-art GE9X engines. To ensure safety, Boeing highlighted that each engine is equipped with two of these mounts for added redundancy.
The grounding of the 777-9 fleet raises concerns about potential delays in its certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA only recently began test flights for the 777-9 in mid-July, following multiple delays to secure type inspection authorization. Boeing has stated that it is in continuous communication with the FAA and has informed its customers of the situation.
In a separate development, the FAA issued a new airworthiness directive this week, affecting nearly 900 Boeing 787 Dreamliners across the globe. The directive mandates inspections and possible repairs for switch caps on cockpit seats that, if improperly installed, could result in unintended seat movement, potentially interfering with auto-pilot and other critical flight controls. This directive follows a March incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence, leading to a mid-flight dive and injuries among passengers.
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