New Hawaiian Dreamliner FAA Scrutiny + A321neo Issue Updates

This week, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a proposed airworthiness directive impacting Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including those operated by Hawaiian Airlines. It comes as we reveal the latest on the airline’s 321neo engine problems below.

This Dreamliner proposed directive calls for maintenance record checks or inspections to be required for the aircraft after a failed test on a crucial landing gear component is discovered. The proposal impacts all models of the 787 series—787-8, 787-9, and 787-10. It will affect 156 U.S.-registered aircraft, including those at Hawaiian. Other airlines flying these planes to Hawaii include American and United.

Issue with Dreamliners has potential for landing gear collapse.

The directive was prompted by Boeing’s disclosure that an inspection intended to identify cracks or other defects in a landing gear part was inadvertently omitted during the Dreamliner manufacturing process. Following the FAA’s investigation, it was revealed that this lapse was caused by human error and isolated to a single technician.

It’s hard for us to imagine a company as large as Boeing would only have a single technician responsible for this important inspection.

The agency emphasized that undetected cracks in the component could lead to a fracture, resulting in a potential collapse of the landing gear. This has been deemed an “unsafe condition” that necessitates immediate attention​.

This development adds to a litany of Boeing challenges with regulatory scrutiny, especially following the recent incident involving its 737 Max model. In January, a mid-air blowout at Alaska Airlines exposed Boeing’s manufacturing and quality control issues on a plane used for nearly two dozen Hawaii flights. That incident may have helped lead to this current discovery, as it prompted the company to improve its internal reporting mechanisms.​

See: Despite 22 Hawaii Flights, Warnings Prior To Blowout, Alaska Airlines Blameless.

Implications for Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliners.

Hawaiian Airlines currently operates two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with hopes of ultimately receiving eleven. However, this expansion is contingent upon the proposed acquisition of Alaska Airlines as well as Hawaiian’s own financial situation​​. The airline is known for its own rigorous safety standards over its 95 year history. The company has been counting on leveraging the Hawaiian Air Dreamliners to set new standards and better compete in Hawaii, as we’ve previously highlighted.

A321neo Issue update – are challenges in the rear-view mirror?

The FAA directive comes following Hawaiian Airlines’ other fleet issues, which have concerned its Airbus A321neo narrow-body fleet. In several articles we’ve covered the technical and operational challenges that Hawaiian has faced with this aircraft type. The problems with the A321neo’s Pratt & Whitney engines previously caused significant disruptions in flight schedules, impacting the airline’s operations when up to five planes were simultaneously out of service for engine repair. Long periods of out-of-service were required to fix these agonizing Hawaiian A321neo issues.

We checked today and it appears that the issues are resolved. We say that as we find that seventeen of their eighteen A321neo planes are operating on flights today. Only one of the planes is out of service at its maintenance facility in the Philippines. N214HA arrived there on July 20.

Hawaiian Airlines moved its aircraft maintenance operations to Clark International Airport in the Philippines. This strategic decision was to enhance efficiency and reduce costs associated with maintaining their aircraft. The maintenance is conducted there in partnership with Lufthansa Technik, a well known aircraft maintenance services company. This allows Hawaiian Airlines to leverage Lufthansa Technik’s extensive expertise and facilities at Clark to ensure the airworthiness and performance of their aircraft.