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Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure even after technical experts from the Federal Aviation Administration experts objected, according to a new report from The Seattle Times.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will today grill FAA Administrator Steve Dickson about why the FAA's managers ultimately approved the change, which involved removing copper foil from part of the 787 Dreamliner's wings.
Chairman Peter DeFazio, a representative for Oregon, said in a letter to the FAA in November that the committee had received "information and documents suggesting Boeing implemented a design change on its 787 Dreamliner lightning protection features to which multiple FAA specialists ultimately rejected."
He said that the removal of the copper foil could "increase the number of ignition sources in the fuel tanks" in the event of lightning strikes.
The Seattle Times reported that Boeing designed the Dreamliner, which first started flying in 2009, with both an insulating cap and the copper foil on the wings to protect the plane during lightning strikes.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will today grill FAA Administrator Steve Dickson about why the FAA's managers ultimately approved the change, which involved removing copper foil from part of the 787 Dreamliner's wings.
Chairman Peter DeFazio, a representative for Oregon, said in a letter to the FAA in November that the committee had received "information and documents suggesting Boeing implemented a design change on its 787 Dreamliner lightning protection features to which multiple FAA specialists ultimately rejected."
He said that the removal of the copper foil could "increase the number of ignition sources in the fuel tanks" in the event of lightning strikes.
The Seattle Times reported that Boeing designed the Dreamliner, which first started flying in 2009, with both an insulating cap and the copper foil on the wings to protect the plane during lightning strikes.
Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure, even after FAA experts objected
The FAA administrator will be questioned by Congress today over its certification of the change to the 787 Dreamliner as well as the 737 Max.
www.businessinsider.com
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