Boeing and its biggest supplier Spirit AeroSystems have broadened the range of their inspections to address a manufacturing flaw that affects 737 Max 8 jets.
The entities have expanded the scope of their reviews of the “aft pressure bulkhead structure on the 737 Max 8”, and are examining hand-drilled fasteners, Washington-based The Air Current reported.
“The newly expanded X-ray inspections and rework risk further slowing both the recovery progress and the pace of overall production as Boeing seeks to accelerate output,” the report said.
The National reached out to Boeing to confirm the development.
“We continue to take the time necessary to ensure each airplane meets our standards and regulatory requirements prior to ticketing and delivery,” Boeing told The National, without divulging further details.
Kansas-based Spirit is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial planes, defence platforms, and business or regional jets. The aerostructure is a component of an aircraft's airframe.
In August, Boeing said a production glitch, found recently in some of its 737 Max jets, was not a safety risk but would lead to delivery delays for its best-selling model.
The defect was discovered after Spirit drilled “elongated” fastener holes in the aft pressure bulkhead in a way that did not confirm to specifications, the Virginia-based plane maker said.
The aft pressure bulkhead is a dome-shaped structural wall at the rear of the fuselage that is responsible for maintaining passenger cabin pressure in the aircraft.
Boeing said in July that its 737 programme had set a production target of 38 aircraft a month and planned to reach 50 a month in the 2025-2026 time frame. The company expects to deliver 400 to 450 jets in 2023.
The recent issue tops off a long history of problems for the 737 Max. The jet was grounded by regulators worldwide after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019.
It returned to service in the US in November 2020 after a 20-month span, during which Boeing made software upgrades and training changes.
Other countries then resumed 737 Max flights after conducting regulatory inspections.
Boeing, which has struggled to increase aircraft production as travel demand rebounds in the pre-coronavirus era, reported a net loss of $149 million in the second quarter due to delays and cost issues in its defence and space programme
However, revenue in the April-June period rose 18 per cent annually to more than $19.7 billion.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Janet Yellen's Firsts
- In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve
- In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
