United Grounds Fleet Of 777's

[sbk]

OK, the article says for 36 hours, but I expect the knock-on effect will last longer

CHICAGO - United Airlines temporarily grounded 11 percent of its fleet Wednesday, while it tested dozens of Boeing 777s to make sure components of a cargo fire suppression system were operating effectively, the carrier said.

The Chicago-based airline said testing will be done on 52 777s during the next 36 hours. Spokeswoman Jean Medina said 12 planes had been inspected and cleared to fly by midmorning.

The carrier has about 460 aircraft.

Delays were being reported in Japan and Hawaii Wednesday morning and the airline warned passengers to be prepared for other delays and cancellations as it proceeded with the inspections.

United, a subsidiary of UAL Corp., said a review of maintenance records showed a test on one of five bottles in the fire suppression system hadn't been performed. The airline alerted authorities.

The planes, which have a so-called "intuitive" self-diagnostic system that would have detected any malfunction with the fire suppression system, mostly fly international routes and from the carrier's major hubs.

United carried out unscheduled maintenance on seven of its Boeing 747 jets last month but found no safety-related issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been checking maintenance records at all domestic airlines after revelations surfaced about missed safety inspections at Southwest Airlines Co.

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On the Net: http://www.united.com

[Spee]

OK, the article says for 36 hours, but I expect the knock-on effect will last longer

CHICAGO - United Airlines temporarily grounded 11 percent of its fleet Wednesday, while it tested dozens of Boeing 777s to make sure components of a cargo fire suppression system were operating effectively, the carrier said.

Unless they have changed aircraft recently, this shouldn't affect the ORD-NRT-BKK route which is the main way to get to BKK on UAL. Unless I'm mistaken, that route has always been flown with 747 aircraft.

I think most of the UAL triple-sevens serve European routes.

[flightcrew1]

They have changed the aircraft on the nrt/bkk/bkk route but ord/nrd/ord still using the 747. I'm not sure if it shows change of equipment on the website as I have not looked but if you see the code "chq" that means you should check.

They (we) have been using 777's on this route for about 18 months or so. I know this as this is the route I mainly work.

[lomatopo]

On UA both ORD-NRT dailies and NRT-BKK operate with 777 aircraft currently. I traveled ORD-NRT-BKK on 1/2 April. No delay ex-ORD on 881 as this flight departed before the inspection notice was issued. Delay at NRT was ~ 2 hours as they inspected each aircraft's fire suppression system in the cargo bay. Most departures ex-NRT on 2 April were delayed 2 ~ 3 hours, systemwide there were much bigger problems with delays and cancellations. Also believe a UA 777 charter to Romania, for press, was impacted.

I flew NRT-BKK on UA 5 Jan with a 747 but all 777 service currently.