United removing Boeing 787 from immediate flight plans

[marmar]

(Reuters) - United Continental Holdings said on Thursday it was taking Boeing Co's grounded 787 Dreamliner out of its flying plans through June 5, except for a Denver-to-Tokyo route scheduled for a tentative launch in May.

Meanwhile, Japanese investigators studying fuel leaks on the 787 found a problem with the paint on equipment controlling the fuel-tank valve, the Nikkei news service reported, citing people familiar with the details.

United's decision to mostly exclude the 787 from its schedule until June comes as other airlines that have 787s are setting schedules for coming months while still uncertain about when the plane will be able to resume service.

............(snip)............

Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei newspaper, citing sources, reported in its February 22 morning edition that Transport Ministry investigators found deficiencies in how electrical-insulating paint was applied to a driving mechanism that opens and closes the 787's fuel-tank valve. The ministry also found foreign matter stuck on a switch on the mechanism. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/united-says-removing-boeing-787-flight-plans-194435472--finance.html

[Turbineguy]

1. There probably is such a thing as a complexity limit

and perhaps Boeing has exceeded theirs.

[Fumesucker]

2. It's possible to build exquisite mechanisms that work amazingly well, Spirit and Opportunity

The two Mars rovers come to mind that operated far, far beyond their design specs.

It's hard to do that when overseen by bean counters though.