US: FAA orders emergency engine checks after Southwest fatality
US aviation regulators ordered emergency inspections of one of the world’s most popular jet engines after the fatal accident this week on a Southwest jet. The FAA order covers an estimated 352 CFM International engines in the US that have made at least 30,000 flights, the agency said Friday. The emergency order is effective immediately, and inspections must be completed within 20 days, the FAA said. The European Aviation Safety Agency is adopting similar requirements, said a person familiar with the matter. There are 681 of the engines worldwide with that many flights and regulators in other nations generally follow the FAA’s lead. The inspections aren’t expected to disrupt travel, although they will create logistical headaches for airlines with large fleets of Boeing 737s, most of which are powered by the affected engine, said aviation consultant Gary Weissel. The largest American carriers should be able to schedule aircraft for checks for microscopic cracks during overnight stays at maintenance hubs. Their biggest challenge will involve quickly getting a sufficient number of mechanics and ultrasound scanners in place, Weissel said. “An airline is going to do absolutely everything it can to not take a plane out of service,” he added.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2018-04-23/general/us-faa-orders-emergency-engine-checks-after-southwest-fatality
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US: FAA orders emergency engine checks after Southwest fatality
US aviation regulators ordered emergency inspections of one of the world’s most popular jet engines after the fatal accident this week on a Southwest jet. The FAA order covers an estimated 352 CFM International engines in the US that have made at least 30,000 flights, the agency said Friday. The emergency order is effective immediately, and inspections must be completed within 20 days, the FAA said. The European Aviation Safety Agency is adopting similar requirements, said a person familiar with the matter. There are 681 of the engines worldwide with that many flights and regulators in other nations generally follow the FAA’s lead. The inspections aren’t expected to disrupt travel, although they will create logistical headaches for airlines with large fleets of Boeing 737s, most of which are powered by the affected engine, said aviation consultant Gary Weissel. The largest American carriers should be able to schedule aircraft for checks for microscopic cracks during overnight stays at maintenance hubs. Their biggest challenge will involve quickly getting a sufficient number of mechanics and ultrasound scanners in place, Weissel said. “An airline is going to do absolutely everything it can to not take a plane out of service,” he added.<br/>
