Beaucaire From Syria, joined Sep 2003, 5252 posts, RR: 26 Posted (4 years 7 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4002 times:
reading this Boeing service notice it seems the fuel-pumps in many 737 models could run dry and potentially cause an ignition of the center tank..
That directive will cause major disruptions to operations with most airlines ?
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 80 Reply 1, posted (4 years 7 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3934 times:
Quoting Beaucaire (Thread starter): That directive will cause major disruptions to operations with most airlines ?
It's not as bad as it may first appear. The AD only applies to those aircraft that have autoshutoff (SB 737-28A1206) but have not yet installed SB 737-28A1248 (or the production equivalent). Since I don't think the compliance period for 737-28A1206 is over yet, the problem probably doesn't apply to the entire fleet. The problem also doesn't appear to apply to airplanes with the production version of 737-28A1206, which has been around for a few years now so the most recent airplanes shouldn't be effected.
For that part of the fleet it does apply to, they have 48 hours (minimum) to do the test, or else deactivate the center left pump. You can still dispatch with that pump inactive as a 10-day MEL item (non-ETOPS), so really they've got 12 days to do the inspections.
If I were an airline, I'd start on the ETOPS scheduled airplanes tonight and tomorrow night, then start working my way through the rest of the fleet over the next 10 days. It will be challenging, but probably not crippling (not as bad as the American Airlines MD-80 fiasco).
very well said. also alot of a/c will be RONing (north america) right now, so they'll get a good crack at it. it doesn't seem like the testing would take very long, provided no fault was found.
we'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings in the way of delays.
Trex8 From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 3979 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3402 times:
Ot but whatever happened to the bolt/nut problem and the CI 738 which burned up, has the final accident report come out and weren;'t there reports of new planes with problems too, what did Boeing do to fix that issue?
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 80 Reply 6, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2847 times:
Quoting Trex8 (Reply 3): Ot but whatever happened to the bolt/nut problem and the CI 738 which burned up, has the final accident report come out and weren;'t there reports of new planes with problems too, what did Boeing do to fix that issue?
There was an interim report...I don't recall ever seeing a final. An AD went out within a few days of figuring out what went wrong in that case requiring all operators to inspect for proper torque and installation of the slat downstops. That should have killed the problem right there.
American 767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3333 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day ago) and read 2561 times:
Quoting Arffguy (Reply 5): A large number of short range flights are made without the center tank even being used. So deactivating one of the center tank pumps would not matter.
Yes, but one aircraft can be assigned on a longer flight after completing a short flight assignment. For example, a Delta 737-800 completes a short flight ORD-ATL and a couple of hours later it is assigned on a longer ATL-SAN segment.
All major operators of the 737-NG Series in the United States, AA, CO, DL and WN assign those aircraft on long segments. So they all have to check the center fuel tanks of their aircraft.
Ben Soriano
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21289 posts, RR: 19 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 22 hours ago) and read 2444 times:
Quoting American 767 (Reply 7): All major operators of the 737-NG Series in the United States, AA, CO, DL and WN assign those aircraft on long segments. So they all have to check the center fuel tanks of their aircraft.
But if need be, they can deactivate the pump on some aircraft and keep them on short missions. It's not something you'd want to do for years and years, but it would be for a maximum of 10 days.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 80 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 18 hours ago) and read 2267 times:
Quoting American 767 (Reply 7): All major operators of the 737-NG Series in the United States, AA, CO, DL and WN assign those aircraft on long segments. So they all have to check the center fuel tanks of their aircraft.
You don't take any range penalty for deactivating one center pump, just an ETOPS hit. Anybody using 737's for non-ETOPS (which is most of them) has 12 days (2 days per the AD and then 10 on the MEL).
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From Syria, joined Sep 2003, 5252 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 3979 posts, 
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But if need be, they can deactivate the pump on some aircraft and keep them on short missions. It's not something you'd want to do for years and years, but it would be for a maximum of 10 days.
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