Quantcast

FAA mandates checks on Boeing 787 landing gear assemblies

Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
FAA mandates checks on Boeing 787 landing gear assemblies
Policy
Webp 9d8e4n9zvnq6npvse1f7c4oouh5n
Airbus A380 | Airbus

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning the Boeing 787's main landing gear. This follows a report indicating that a mandatory inspection was not completed during the manufacturing process of drag brace lower lock link assemblies for the aircraft's main landing gear.

Operators are now required to check maintenance records or inspect whether specific drag brace lower links were installed on their aircraft. The FAA issued this directive despite one airline suggesting that a requirement bulletin (RB) was sufficient to address the issue.

The RB, identified as Boeing Alert RB B787-81205-SB320048-00, was released on November 20, 2023. It recommends inspections within 48 months of its issuance or within 48 months after the original airworthiness certificate was issued for potentially affected aircraft. If airlines discover affected part serial numbers in their assemblies, they must replace these parts within the same timeframe.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Before issuing this directive, the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 1. Four stakeholders commented on it, including American Airlines and United Airlines. American Airlines argued that the directive was unnecessary since safety concerns were being addressed via the RB. However, the FAA disagreed with withdrawing the NPRM and stated: “Operators are not required to accomplish Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787-81205-SB320048-00 RB, Issue 001, dated November 20, 2023, until an AD mandates accomplishment.”

The regulator emphasized that undetected cracks could lead to fractures in the assembly, potentially causing collapse of the main landing gear and loss of directional control while on ground. This worst-case scenario could result in runway excursions and fuel tank penetration.

According to Boeing’s RB, line numbers between 6 and 1168 are affected by this bulletin. The FAA estimates that around 156 aircraft may be impacted by this directive. An inspection or records check will cost operators approximately $85 per aircraft. If replacement is necessary, it would take about 18 working hours and cost $40,649 per aircraft including parts expenses.

The effective date for this AD is December 31, 2024.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Air New Zealand is set to expand its fleet with the arrival of two new A321neo aircraft, each covering a distance of 19,342 kilometers from the Airbus facility in Hamburg to Auckland.

Jun 3, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

Jun 2, 2025

Alaska Airlines is offering its Mileage Plan members the opportunity to explore global culinary destinations with significant discounts on award tickets.

Jun 2, 2025

Emirates is offering a complimentary ice cream experience for travelers at Dubai International Airport during the busy summer travel season.

Jun 2, 2025

Emirates is set to resume flights to Damascus starting on July 16, 2025.

Jun 2, 2025

Nashville, USA, 2 June 2025 – dnata has entered into a multi-year agreement with Aer Lingus at Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Jun 2, 2025