By Dhirendra Tripathi
Investing.com – Boeing (NYSE:BA) stock traded 1.1% lower Thursday on reports the Federal Aviation Administration is readying three safety directives for Boeing to implement so that some of its 777 planes, grounded for more than a year, can return to flying.
The directives cover Boeing 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines.
According to Reuters, the engines are on only a small number of older 777s operated by Japan Airlines Ltd ADR (OTC:JAPSY), United (NASDAQ:UAL), ANA Holdings Inc ADR (OTC:ALNPY), Korean Air Lines Co (KS:003490), Asiana Airline (KS:020560) and Jin Air Co Ltd (KS:272450).
The manufacturer must now develop a service bulletin laying out steps airlines must take to meet requirements, the Reuters report said. The bulletin will need the FAA’s approval before the planes can return to service.
The new directives, which were proposed in December after three reported in-flight fan blade failures, call for enhanced inspections and modifications.
One directive requires the installing of debris shields on the thrust reverser inner wall, inspecting fan cowl doors for moisture ingression and repetitive checks of the hydraulic pump shutoff valves. Another requires modifying the engine inlet to withstand fan blade failure events. A third requires specific corrective actions depending on inspection results.
In a February 2021 incident, a United Airlines 777 showered debris over nearby cities, shortly after takeoff from Denver. No one was injured and the plane safely returned to the airport.
The directives will take effect in mid-April.