DID SOUTH CAROLINA BET ON A LEMON?
A pair of federal agencies are launching investigation into Boeing’s Dreamliner aircraft after at least five separate incidents this week raised fresh concerns about the plane’s safety.
On Friday, a Dreamliner owned by All Nippon Airlines experienced an oil leak from one of its engines while on the ground at Miyazaki airport in southern Japan. Also on Friday, another All Nippon Dreamliner was grounded at Matsuyama airport in western Japan after its cockpit windshield cracked during a flight from Tokyo.
Earlier in the week an empty Japan Airlines’ Dreamliner experienced an electrical fire on the ground at Logan International Airport in Boston – while yet another Dreamliner taking off from Boston aborted its takeoff due to a fuel leak. Another All Nippon Dreamliner plane was grounded due to an error message related to the plane’s braking system.
What a week, right?
In response to these incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reportedly launching a review of the jet’s power system. Meanwhile U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) officials are said to be initiating a probe into the plane’s electrical system.
The Dreamliner has been a nightmare for Boeing from the start. Originally scheduled for delivery in May of 2008, numerous design, supply and delivery problems pushed that deadline back more than three years – causing numerous cancellations and ramping up pressure on the company to make the plane profitable.
Obviously that’s bad news for South Carolina taxpayers – who shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars to lure a Dreamliner manufacturing facility to North Charleston, S.C. The Palmetto State later lost out on its bid to build Boeing 737 Max planes – part of a deal the company cut with its labor union.
Made of fifty percent carbon fiber composite material, the Dreamliner is lighter, stronger and more fuel-efficient than most commercial jets – which are made primarily of aluminum. Given the price of jet fuel such planes are obviously in high demand – or at least they were back when Boeing was supposed to have been cranking them out.
Now? Well let’s just say it’s becoming increasingly obvious why this company always has its hands in taxpayers’ pockets.
In addition to its massive state incentives package (championed by S.C. Senator Hugh Leatherman), Boeing also receives subsidies from the federal government via the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which gives foreign airlines a taxpayer-funded competitive advantage over U.S. carriers. The company also makes billions of dollars a year on defense contracts.
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23 comments
Has the plane had problems? Yes. At a greater frequency than any other new model of plane, No. There are five layers to the windshield; the outermost layer is the one that cracked. Similar things happen to other planes all the time, hence one of the reasons there are several layers to the glass. The plane has struggled with electrical issues; however, the fire in the APU is believed to be battery related. Again, something that happens to all kids of planes not just Boeing Dreamliners. Boeing is in the media sights and is a target of opportunity. I’m waiting for Ralph Nader to proclaim Boeing “unsafe at any speed.” If you don’t get the reference, ask your parents.
That being said, I still don’t see where the government should be subsidizing a manufacturer (aircraft or widget) moving to South Carolina. I think that, ultimately, it will turn into a bad investment. If the only reason the company located here is due to government payoff under the guise of “investment” then the company will be just as quick to leave when the payoff is over. We should entice companies to locate their manufacturing plants in South Carolina because we offer a better, more competitive environment for the company. Not because we pay more than another state.
Finally, Willie, place a spell check in the comment section of FITS part II. I get tired of cutting and pasting between programs to make sure I don’t fat-finger my comments. Although, a spell checker will decrease the entertainment that we get from the resident toddler, Big T.
Use Firefox, it underlines misspellings for you. (Unfortunately it doesn’t automatically correct them for you.)
Chrome has a built in spell checker also Smirks.
….. good comments.
Windows 8 has auto spell check and will automatically correct words (underlines in red a work not in the dictionary), and when I right-click it gives me several options.
New words can be added, but I refuse to add “BigT” because I like to see his moniker underlined with that red snake!
Fits hired the Chinese proofreader from WLTX and he/she is doing better as the days go by.
Were any of the 787s that had the above issues built in Charleston? That would be a no.
In two of the issues, the failures were in items supplied to Boeing by vendors. A battery and an engine. Don’t know who supplied the battery but the engine was either GE or Rolls.
Sic Willie is just so Lexington-Richland centric that he is pissed they never got a sniff from Boeing.
The 787 has been a different animal from the beginning. Much more of the work was outsourced to supliers, and integration and accountability issues dogged the development early on, causing delay and cost overruns. It will be interesting to see how the 787 fares over the next few years as it goes into wider service. I can’t imagine Boeing will develop another plane the way this one was done.
Shop union made! oh, wait…
Boeing is adding onto the plant and site even today. Don’t see this being a nightmare for them. Just normal bullshit they encounter in aircraft industry.
There are some things bubba should not be allowed to play with and building airplanes is in the top 5.
Might be true in Chapin. But in the Low Country we have overhauled and refueled nuclear submarines. We have assembled missiles with MIRVed warheads that arrived via the white train from Pantex. So go on back to your hovel. The Low Country is more than qualified to assemble airplanes.
OK
The Lowcountry used to refuel subs and they used to be a base for subs. Used to be is the operative word.
Unless I have missed the point of building airplanes it is my understanding the damn things are supposed to fly not be parked on tarmacs.
As for bubba and Boeing they are assembling the damn things, however the damn things they have assembled cannot fucking fly.
As for the “hovel” wisecrack it is my misfortune that I no longer live in the Lowcountry an area that is the home-base for Nobility such as Lords McConnell, Harrell, Limehouse, Ravenel, Sanford, Kuhn, Summery and a host of other infamous Cockroaches.
Additionally I don’t think Chapin has strong armed the taxpayers to pour millions and millions of tax dollars into no win projects such as the Yorktown and a similar compromise of tax dollars with Glenn McConnell’s sexual obsession with the Hunley.
Both enterprises are not core functions of government.
However, I not only will apologize for all my remarks, I will also kiss your ass at a time and place of your choosing upon the day the Yorktown and Hunley pay back all funds received from the taxpayers and cease sucking off Mother Carolina’s tit.
Cyn,
Are you trying to make us feel safer or scare the living bejeebus out of us?
Funny shit fellows!
all the recent issues have been with those union built 787s from Washington state…
Yeah recruiting industry into SC has been bad. I mean BMW, Bridgestone, Michelin, et al. have not been successful. And since they don’t employ 15,0000 people. I guess you folks go fishing and expect the bass to just jump in the boat.
This fire was deliberately set by those 3 union guys in Charleston. Never fear. Nimmy Boo Boo is on this mofo.
When did SC bid on the 737 work? It has not. Once again, dont let truth get in your way Willie.
Really, the plane that started a fire at the Charleston airport had no connection to the Charleston plant?
….. let’s wait to see how the new Airbus planes to be built in Alabama compare to the Boeing.
But I’ll wait awhile before I ride in this Boeing.
….. which reminds me-
Have you heard about Vatican Airlines? The escape instructions are in Latin so that the Catholics can get off first!
The tower called the pilot of one flight and asked, “What is your height and position?” The pilot answered, “I’m six-one and I’m in the cockpit.”
Two guys in a bar were discussing their likes and dislikes. One said, “I’m scared to fly. I don’t believe planes are safe.” The other guy says, “That’s dumb. Do you think trains are safe? Last week there was a great train wreck and almost four hundred people were killed.” The first guy says, “No kidding, what happened?” The other guy says, “A plane fell on it!”
Two Nuns had recently gotten their pilot’s license and were having trouble getting cleared by the control tower at a small municipal airport. One Nun says to the Pilot Nun, “Why don’t you show him your cross and maybe he will let us take off.”
The Pilot Nun slides the cockpit glass back and leans out the window and yells at the tower, “Hey, you son-of-a-bitch why don’t you just let us takeoff!!!” Sorry Shifty Henry I just couldn’t resist ;-)
>>> chuckle <<< – jokes are meant to be shared!
Can anyone say “industrial espionage”?