The reliability of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is slowly improving but it is
still not at a satisfactory level and the firm is working to improve
the jet's performance. Photo/FILE
By Reuters
In Summary
- Dreamliner's reliability rate is now around 98 per cent, meaning that two out of every 100 flights is delayed, above the 97 per cent reported in October but still short of the firm's target.
- Dreamliner was supposed to be a game-changer for the aviation industry as its lightweight body and sophisticated engines cut fuel consumption by 20 per cent.
The reliability of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is
slowly improving but it is still not at a satisfactory level and the
firm is working to improve the jet's performance, Mike Fleming, Boeing's
vice president for 787 support and services said.
The Dreamliner's reliability rate is now around 98
per cent, meaning that two out of every 100 flights is delayed, above
the 97 per cent reported in October but still short of the firm's
target, Fleming told a news conference in Oslo.
"I'll tell you that's not where we want the
airplane to be, we're not satisfied with that reliability level of the
airplane, the 777 today flies at 99.4 per cent ... and that's the
benchmark that the 787 needs to attain," Fleming said.
The Dreamliner was supposed to be a game-changer
for the aviation industry as its lightweight body and sophisticated
engines cut fuel consumption by 20 per cent.
But it has been beset by problems, including a
battery fire that grounded the model for three months last year and
forced Boeing to redesign the battery.
Norwegian Air, the only European budget carrier to
fly long haul, has been especially badly hit after a long string of
breakdowns last year left passengers stranded around the world.
Also, this month Japan Airlines' maintenance crew
noticed white smoke coming from the main battery of a Dreamliner with a
battery cell showing signs of melting just two hours before the plane
was due to fly.
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