Will Boeing evacuate all flyable airframes from CHS and what will they do to protect ones that are not?

Too early to say. Would say no decision would be made until Wednesday at the earliest when a tighter projection cone is available. Right now projections show the cone could move far enough north that CHS would be unaffected.

Of bigger concern is Spirit's facility in North Carolina at Kinston

If the forecast has Charleston getting hit hard enough by the hurricane, Boeing would most likely ferry the flyable frames to other locations throughout the country. However, if the storm does not pose a big enough threat, I do not see Boeing doing this.

Would they have enough crew current on the applicable aircraft to ferry them all out? I guess you could deadhead them back to CHS on a private aircraft if absolutely necessary so each crew could fly out multiple frames if given enough lead time.

That's what happens when you build facilities in hurricane areas. But I suppose if they built on in the Midwest you have hurricanes. If you build on in the North you have winter storms. Hopefully there won't be serious damage regardless.

lavalampluva wrote:

That's what happens when you build facilities in hurricane areas. But I suppose if they built on in the Midwest you have hurricanes. If you build on in the North you have winter storms. Hopefully there won't be serious damage regardless.

...or in a major earthquake and volcano zone (Washington).

In reality, it's all about odds...

There are (according to Uresh's spreadsheet) 8 787s in preflight, 2 ready for delivery, 2 in change incorporation/rework, and 4 in production test. That's at least 6 that could fly out. I would expect the Air Force to relocate all flyable C-17s from the Air Force Base. There might be some hangar space at the AFB and there are two paint hangars, that might not have any occupants at the time. Perhaps some of the aircraft in preflight could also be flown out. Tornados have done more damage to Spirit and Boeing in Kansas than hurricanes have done to Boeing in Charleston.

So far CHS isn't 100% confirmed to be affected. I have a flight in from ATL on the 13th and it wasn't part of the travel waiver in place by DL. I bet BOE has a few people keeping a close eye on this.

nikeherc wrote:

Tornados have done more damage to Spirit and Boeing in Kansas than hurricanes have done to Boeing in Charleston.

I'd say two major Tornadoes have hit Spirit/Boeing (April, 14 2012 - EF3 and April 26, 1991 - F5) I was in my basement for the EF3 in 2012. Had it hooked a little more eastward to start I would probably have had the roof taken off my house. The F5 in 1991 did more damage to the AFB than it did to Boeing at the time. A lot of the costs incurred at Spirit weren't due to the damage to buildings but the loss of power. It's bad when your freezers holding all your composite materials lose power. Ditto for the parts in autoclaves.

But more to the point of my reply. It's kind of difficult to say "well more damage has been done to spirit and boeing in Kansas due to tornadoes than hurricanes at charleston" when the Charleston facility hasn't been around very long - since Nov. 12, 2011. If memory serves it was Hurricane Matthew in 2016 that led to some major flooding and some delivery delays. But this was mostly a rain event. Winds didn't do much. This event will likely be more severe based on current projections.

As information, the Governor has ordered an evacuation of coastal South Carolina, beginning tomorrow at noon. The eastbound lanes of I-26 will be reversed to facilitate the evacuation. Schools are being closed beginning tomorrow in 26 of South Carolina's 46 counties. In some of the counties, the schools are closing because the county is being evacuated. In other counties, schools will become shelters for evacuees. After Hugo in 1989 and the rains in 2015, we take weather very seriously in South Carolina. If you are so inclined, say a prayer for the Carolinas. If not, wish us luck.

lavalampluva wrote:

But I suppose if they built on in the Midwest you have hurricanes.

You mean tornadoes?

LN 729 (HU) is on its way to PAE. Expect all fly worthy aircraft to follow shortly. Others will be put inside hangars most likely.

cledaybuck wrote:

lavalampluva wrote:

But I suppose if they built on in the Midwest you have hurricanes.

You mean tornadoes?

Yes lol. Maybe they are land hurricanes

The greatest destruction from hurricanes is frequently due to tornados arising from the eye wall of the hurricane.

Im one of the only local photographers here, check my bio. I was just at the airport and heard ATC ask one of the Boeing pilots what their plans were. BOE pilot said they are trying to get as many 787s out asap. Efforts to move the planes out started just after sunset here.

Flightaware shows Boeing is moving assets to KPAE. The first airplane out was a Hainan frame. I didn’t stay long after the sun set. Ask me any questions you have.

Where does Boeing get pilots for these types of events? Do they have staff pilots, do they hire pilots ad hoc, or do various airlines provide pilots? Definitely seems like a logistical puzzle that would be exciting to be a part of.

Looks like it is going to be real Ugly.

https://weather.com/en-GB/unitedkingdom ... usa-latest

https://twitter.com/David_Wren_/status/ ... 3564261376 says:

According to Boeing: Operations at @weareboeingsc in North Charleston will be suspended Tuesday in advance of #HurricaneFlorence . Dreamliners on the flight line will be moved inside or flown to safe areas. Last plane out by 10 a.m.

And indeed https://twitter.com/weareboeingsc says:

The safety of our #Boeing teammates and their families is our top priority. Due to possible impacts from Hurricane Florence, Boeing will suspend operations at Boeing South Carolina Tuesday, Sept. 11. We will resume operations once it is safe to do so.

The following planes are enroute CHS-PAE:
LN743 ZC061 Etihad 787-10 A6-BMA (BOE061)
LN734 ZB797 Hainan 787-9 B-1132 (BOE797)
LN702 ZB893 Shanghai 787-9 B-1111 (BOE893)

Also, LN745 ZB798 Hainan 787-9 B-1133 (BOE798) has returned to CHS for some unknown reason.

Scheduled but yet to depart:
LN731 ZC037 United 787-10 N14001 (BOE037)

nikeherc wrote:

The greatest destruction from hurricanes is frequently due to tornados arising from the eye wall of the hurricane.

Actually, it's due to the flooding. I heard on the news last night, that more people die trying to drive their cars through flooded streets than any other cause of death from a storm. Kind of sad since it's easily avoidable...

So far we have the following:

"If the forecast has Charleston getting hit hard enough by the hurricane, Boeing would most likely ferry the flyable frames to other locations throughout the country. However, if the storm does not pose a big enough threat, I do not see Boeing doing this"................ Thank you I never would have thought that...

"I suppose if they built on in the Midwest you have hurricanes" ........................must be the weak remnants of what is left of a hurricane

Keep em coming...

trpmb6 wrote:

Too early to say. Would say no decision would be made until Wednesday at the earliest when a tighter projection cone is available. Right now projections show the cone could move far enough north that CHS would be unaffected.

Of bigger concern is Spirit's facility in North Carolina at Kinston

There is about 99% chance Kinston (town) will flood. It always does due to flat areas and the river. GTP usually comes out okay though. If this thing parks over Eastern NC, they are all in trouble.

Seems an awful long way to evacuate to, only to fly back next week. Why not a big commercial airport somewhere in the middle?

uta999 wrote:

Seems an awful long way to evacuate to, only to fly back next week. Why not a big commercial airport somewhere in the middle?

Apparently, their planners read a.net and were worried about those midwest hurricanes too!

Seems to me if Boeing is sending planes to PAE, they can get in flight testing on the way, 4 hr flight time

You should see USAF typhoon evacs—Guam and Okinawa to Honolulu. There’s also issues of parking, support, status of the plane’s modification, post-production, etc.

GF

uta999 wrote:

Seems an awful long way to evacuate to, only to fly back next week. Why not a big commercial airport somewhere in the middle?

Maybe they'll take this opportunity to do some of the rework at PAE while CHS is shut down.

Rbgso wrote:

uta999 wrote:

Seems an awful long way to evacuate to, only to fly back next week. Why not a big commercial airport somewhere in the middle?

Maybe they'll take this opportunity to do some of the rework at PAE while CHS is shut down.

Or even deliver them out of KPAE rather than shipping them back to KCHS...

jeffrey0032j wrote:

The following planes are enroute CHS-PAE:
LN743 ZC061 Etihad 787-10 A6-BMA (BOE061)
LN734 ZB797 Hainan 787-9 B-1132 (BOE797)
LN702 ZB893 Shanghai 787-9 B-1111 (BOE893)

Also, LN745 ZB798 Hainan 787-9 B-1133 (BOE798) has returned to CHS for some unknown reason.

Scheduled but yet to depart:
LN731 ZC037 United 787-10 N14001 (BOE037)

All of the above are on their way to PAE now.

tcfc424 wrote:

Where does Boeing get pilots for these types of events? Do they have staff pilots, do they hire pilots ad hoc, or do various airlines provide pilots? Definitely seems like a logistical puzzle that would be exciting to be a part of.

They probably have 1 maybe 2 crews already on site for normal production test flights and flew in additional crews from Seattle yesterday when evacuating the planes became necessary.

bigbird wrote:

Will Boeing evacuate all flyable airframes from CHS and what will they do to protect ones that are not?

Can’t say from which airports/bases but Dobbins(MGE) Lawson (LSF) Macon (MCN) and Warner Robbins (WRB) are all going to be getting aircaft in some capacity. Lots of variables including the weather at those airports at the time of intended arrival.

And I understand the Dreamliners but if the military is moving aircraft hopefully Boeing is as well.

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

You should see USAF typhoon evacs—Guam and Okinawa to Honolulu. There’s also issues of parking, support, status of the plane’s modification, post-production, etc.

GF

Problem is there is a tropical storm (at this time) about to hit Hawaii . . interesting times.

Also being evacuated from CHS is Dreamlifter N747BC, which landed at PAE a few minutes before Etihad 787-10 A6-BMA.

Here's United's 787X N14001 evacuating CHS from earlier today. The flightline is nearly empty. I've recognized all of the pilots voices on ATC so I don't think they have been contracting outside sources for pilots. Could be wrong though. The Airforce is in the process of evacuating all of their C17's as well.

Dear fellow nutters, I am flying FRA-ATL on LH444 this Sunday. Or could it be that I‘m not? That’s exactly when whatever’s left of Florence could be there.

Is there a rule, when will major airports seize operations due to weather?

Carlos01 wrote:

Dear fellow nutters, I am flying FRA-ATL on LH444 this Sunday. Or could it be that I‘m not? That’s exactly when whatever’s left of Florence could be there.

Is there a rule, when will major airports seize operations due to weather?

ATL isn't in the line of the storm or within 500km of the expected path. You should be fine. Might feel some bumps if you fly over/through it though.

As far as airports closing goes, I know they do everything they can to try to keep them open (for relief efforts and evacuees), but yes, if there is damage or threat to life, they will close until they can safely re-open. It falls more to the airlines to decide what's operating conditions (or forecast conditions) are worth trying to operate flights in. Generally in the case of a high-wind event, they will want to move all of their aircraft out of the storm path to avoid damage.

CassidysVacay wrote:

Here's United's 787X N14001 evacuating CHS from earlier today. The flightline is nearly empty. I've recognized all of the pilots voices on ATC so I don't think they have been contracting outside sources for pilots. Could be wrong though. The Airforce is in the process of evacuating all of their C17's as well.

Thanks for the great pic and your on-going observations.

Cassidy's - Thanks for the info/updates.

Carlos1 - You should have no issues with ATL on Sunday. Check with LH as each carrier is different but I would not be concerned.

CassidysVacay wrote:

Im one of the only local photographers here, check my bio. I was just at the airport and heard ATC ask one of the Boeing pilots what their plans were. BOE pilot said they are trying to get as many 787s out asap. Efforts to move the planes out started just after sunset here.

Flightaware shows Boeing is moving assets to KPAE. The first airplane out was a Hainan frame. I didn’t stay long after the sun set. Ask me any questions you have.

One of my friends is a paramedic in a coastal town in SC. I have wished him good luck as I doubt he will be able/willing to evacuate. Good luck to you too, let us know how you get on.

The typhoon evacs aren’t current, but seen in the past at Hickam.

GF

rajincajun01 wrote:

trpmb6 wrote:

Too early to say. Would say no decision would be made until Wednesday at the earliest when a tighter projection cone is available. Right now projections show the cone could move far enough north that CHS would be unaffected.

Of bigger concern is Spirit's facility in North Carolina at Kinston

There is about 99% chance Kinston (town) will flood. It always does due to flat areas and the river. GTP usually comes out okay though. If this thing parks over Eastern NC, they are all in trouble.

It's supposed to park over eastern NC - how far is Kinston from the Neuse River? I remember that the 2015 floods from Joaquin affected that part of NC and the upper coastal plain of SC - Black River cut I-95 in half near Manning for days and I believe the Pee Dee did as well.

Carlos01 wrote:

Dear fellow nutters, I am flying FRA-ATL on LH444 this Sunday. Or could it be that I‘m not? That’s exactly when whatever’s left of Florence could be there.

Is there a rule, when will major airports seize operations due to weather?

You should be fine. ATL is far enough out of the way. CLT, on the other hand....

N126DL wrote:

rajincajun01 wrote:

trpmb6 wrote:

Too early to say. Would say no decision would be made until Wednesday at the earliest when a tighter projection cone is available. Right now projections show the cone could move far enough north that CHS would be unaffected.

Of bigger concern is Spirit's facility in North Carolina at Kinston

There is about 99% chance Kinston (town) will flood. It always does due to flat areas and the river. GTP usually comes out okay though. If this thing parks over Eastern NC, they are all in trouble.

It's supposed to park over eastern NC - how far is Kinston from the Neuse River? I remember that the 2015 floods from Joaquin affected that part of NC and the upper coastal plain of SC - Black River cut I-95 in half near Manning for days and I believe the Pee Dee did as well.

The Neuse runs between US70 and Downtown Kinston.