Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
The USA's major airlines have agreed to check fuel tank wiring in a controlled sample of Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas aircraft to determine whether they need mandatory inspections like those recently ordered for older Boeing airliners.
The high-time passenger aircraft which the US Federal Aviation Administration wants inspected are the Lockheed TriStar and the McDonnell Douglas DC-8, DC-9, DC-10 and KC-10 tanker version, as well as the Boeing MD-80/90 and MD-11.
The aircraft safety survey request was sent to the US Air Transport Association (ATA), the trade organisation representing the nation's major airlines. The ATA says that member carriers have agreed to comply with the request from the US aviation agency, but details of how the sampling will be carried out is to be worked out with the FAA and manufacturers. No schedule disruptions are anticipated.
Last month, the FAA grounded vintage Boeing 737s and ordered inspections for younger aircraft after mechanics found evidence of exposed wiring in fuel tanks caused by chafing of protective Teflon wrapping. An airworthiness directive (AD) covering inspection of fuel tank wiring insulation in certain Boeing 747s and 767s was also issued.
The latest FAA request asks ATA members to conduct inspections similar to those which have already been made mandatory for the Boeing 7-series models and demands a report by 21 August. Should the initial survey reveal problems, the FAA would then issue an emergency AD ordering widespread inspections and repairs.
The FAA request results from the crash of a Trans World Airlines 747-100 on 17 July, 1996. A centre fuel tank explosion is suspected.
Source: Flight International
