FAA orders mandatory inspections of Dreamliner pilot seats
The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered mass inspections of Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a sudden midair plunge which injured several passengers earlier this year.
Cockpit seats on certain 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 jets should be inspected.
The FAA said technicians should look ‘missing or cracked rocker switch caps and cracked or nonfunctional switch cover assemblies.’
They should be inspected within 30 days.
“Operators must also perform any necessary corrective actions,” the FAA said.
The directive impacts 158 Dreamliner planes in the US and over 700 globally.
It comes after the LATAM mid-air incident due to a faulty pilot seat sent a plane plunging.
The seat suffered an ‘involuntary movement forward; into the cockpit controls.
Over 50 passengers were injured when the LATAM flight plunged 400 feet.
It ‘caused the control column input to disconnect the auto-pilot, resulting in a rapid descent.’
The FAA said four more instances of a similar problem were later reported.
Plane maker Boeing is supporting the action.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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