Continental Airlines close to implementing DC-10 engine fix

Airline Industry Information, Sept 25, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Continental Airlines has indicated that it is about two weeks away from completing an interim fix on all of its McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft, designed to prevent engine failure.

The airline`s CEO said that 21 engines on the aircraft had been modified by either being replaced with a spare one or through a temporary modification. The manufacturer of the engines, GE Aircraft, has indicated that the problem is caused by a nozzle coming loose and wearing through the engine cover as it rotates. GE Aircraft has said that it has already submitted a permanent replacement to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval.

About 70 more aircraft engines will have work completed over the next two weeks and other carriers, such as Federal Express, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines, are expected to be ordered to complete similar work by the FAA according to the Star-Ledger newspaper.

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