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Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Production Woes
Boeing, the renowned aircraft manufacturer, is currently facing significant production delays with its 787 Dreamliner, in addition to the well-documented issues surrounding the 737 Max. Unlike the spotlight on the 737 Max’s safety concerns, the holdup in 787 Dreamliner production is attributed to the aftermath of United States sanctions against Russia, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Production Hurdles
The root cause of the delays revolves around a crucial component known as the heat exchanger, responsible for regulating temperature within the aircraft. Historically, Boeing sourced these parts from a Russian supplier. However, with the imposition of trade restrictions on Russian goods following the invasion of Ukraine, Boeing transitioned to British and American suppliers. Unfortunately, the new suppliers have not been able to match the previous production levels, leading to a bottleneck in 787 Dreamliner manufacturing.
The heat exchanger is highlighted as one of several key components contributing to the slowdown, as communicated to Boeing employees through a recent internal memo. The combined setbacks in 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max production constitute a substantial portion, accounting for 98% of Boeing’s existing order backlog.
Safety Concerns
Besides production challenges, recent safety apprehensions have also cast a shadow over the 787 Dreamliner. An engineer at Boeing, Sam Salehpour, disclosed issues related to the fuselage of the aircraft in a testimony before the Senate. Salehpour’s observations suggest potential vulnerabilities in the structural integrity of the plane, specifically addressing concerns about the attachment of the metal skin that could lead to catastrophic midair failures.
“The plane will fall apart at the joints we’re talking about,” Salehpour warned. “Once you fall apart, you’re gonna descend all the way to the ground.”
Boeing swiftly responded to Salehpour’s alarming claims, categorically dismissing them as misrepresentations. The company emphasized its unwavering commitment to ensuring the quality and long-term safety of its aircraft, asserting full confidence in its products despite the voiced apprehensions.
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