FAA proposes new Boeing airworthiness directives

Airline Industry Information, Nov 1, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Boeing 777-200 series aircraft equipped with General Electric engines. The proposal would require the installation of a high-temperature silicone foam seal on the aft fairing of the strut. Comments must be received by 14 December 2001.

The FAA has also proposed the adoption of a new AD that is applicable to certain Boeing 747 series aircraft. This proposal would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the skin, bear strap and sill chord of the lower lobe cargo door cutout, and repair if necessary. It also provides, for certain aircraft, an optional modification of the lower lobe cargo door cutout, which ends the pre-modification repetitive inspections but would necessitate new post-modification repetitive inspections after a certain time. Comments are due by 14 December 2001.

A new amendment has been issued by the FAA that supersedes an existing AD applicable to all Boeing 747 series aircraft that currently requires a one-time inspection of the fuselage skin adjacent to the drag splice fitting to detect cracking, and follow on actions if necessary. This amendment requires new repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin adjacent to the drag splice fitting. This amendment is effective 3 December 2001.

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