The aircraft concerned, the number of which has not been specified, are aircraft not delivered and stored by the manufacturer.
Through Le Figaro with AFP
Boeing plans to tighten controls on the 737 MAX not delivered to customers after finding debris in the fuel tanks of certain aircraft currently stored by the manufacturer because they cannot fly. “During maintenance operations, we discovered foreign object debris in undelivered 737 MAX aircraft that we are storing”, said a spokesman for the company on Tuesday in a message sent to AFP, without specifying the number of devices concerned. “This finding led to a solid internal investigation and immediate corrective actions in our production chain”, he added.
The entire 737 MAX fleet has been grounded for almost a year following two fatal crashes. But Boeing has manufactured about 400 additional aircraft since that date before halting production in January. None could be delivered. The aircraft manufacturer is still awaiting the green light from the authorities after having to make several modifications to the MCAS, the software supposed to prevent the plane from dive but implicated in the two accidents, and to solve a problem related to the electrical wiring of the plane. He is currently banking on a return of his flagship aircraft to the sky in mid-2020.
The presence of foreign object debris in the aircraft has been qualified as“Absolutely unacceptable” by 737 program manager Mark Jenks in a message to Boeing employees working on the plane. “Each anomaly is one too many”, he wrote there. “With your help and all your attention, we will (the) eliminate from our production chain “, adds the manager, detailing the measures taken, such as setting up new compulsory checklists, additional inspections or signs reminding employees of all the steps to be observed.
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