787 Dreamliner
Boeing 787s have had three issues in three days with three different systems. (AP Photo/File)

Aviation expert calls Boeing 787 glitches 'teething pains'

BY Chris Sullivan  on January 9, 2013 @ 7:26 am (Updated: 8:13 am - 1/9/13 )

Analysts and customers are calling the recent problems with the Boeing Dreamliner "teething pains," but the plane has had three issues in three days with three different systems.

A fuel leak, an electrical fire, and now an error message in the braking system. All in different 787's this week. It's not the first time this plane has had similar issues.

Aviation insider Richard Aboulafia says "I think you're looking at a real concern but only to Boeing's image. It's not like they're going to find any show-stoppers that make this entire jet an invalid design or something."

Aboulafia says the plane has so much new technology these glitches were bound to happen, but he wonders if Boeing pushed too fast to get them out the door.

"It's better for Boeing if it's a manufacturing problem, but in terms of image it's worse for them if it's a manufacturing problem," he said. "It implies they simply rushed things and really shouldn't have, and it's not a question of technology. It's a question of just pushing too fast."

Boeing vice president of marketing Randy Tinseth said in his blog "we have complete confidence in the 787 and vow to take care of any issues our customers are experiencing - day or night."

Some analysts are wondering how this series of public glitches might play into the latest round of negotiations between Boeing and its engineers and technical workers. Will they give either side an advantage in this talks, or will it even be an issue?

The sides meet again Wednesday for the first time since early December. There is a growing number of people inside SPEEA that think a strike is likely. The company and the union are still far apart on wages and pension benefits.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (15)


  • Add A Comment

  • shark75 wrote...
    Union Built: "Superior" (except for fuel leaks, fires, etc. You know, little things)
    January 9, 2013 7:50 am
    I have Boeing rams this up the union's crybaby thug a-hole in the negotiations and says "take it or leave it"...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Ohhh, well then
    January 9, 2013 9:32 am
    As long as it nothing important .....but, hey engineers, this otta justify you going on strike now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Teething pains?
    January 9, 2013 11:35 am
    I'm sure if the fuel leak led to a fire that would equate to "scrapes and bruises"? How big are these teeth anyway?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Boeing
    January 9, 2013 11:58 am
    787 very advanced technology,even the new Airbus 700+ passenger super-jet has wing cracks,Shirt happens. They'll fix it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    C"mon Man wrote...
    January 9, 2013 2:20 pm
    So union built kr*ap no better than non-union built kr*ap. No raise foe yooo!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    @ Shark75
    January 9, 2013 4:15 pm
    Ha ha ha.....But non-union kr*ap does not smell as bad and does not catch on fire as easily.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Zoeller, absolutely stupid.
    January 9, 2013 6:48 pm
    love how wise arses like you talk what you don't know about. The 787 was non union designed by non union outsourcing and Boeing is still feeling the effects. The cost of it has been so terrible that Boeing actually has to produce the 787 for the next 15 years before it is profitable. The 737, 767, 747 and 777 all union built - don't have problems and have always been profitable. Go back to sniffing gas idiot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    shark75
    January 9, 2013 6:43 pm
    you dont know diddly!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • andy123 wrote...
    Place of assembly
    January 9, 2013 5:02 pm
    That's what I want to know......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Cheap
    January 9, 2013 10:21 pm
    BOEING browbeats it's suppliers to supply parts cheaper and cheaper...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    now that I agree with..and they are incredibly hard to produce too.
    January 10, 2013 3:13 am
    but the margins are so small they must.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tbookout17 wrote...
    maybe its just me but...
    January 10, 2013 6:01 am
    Seems like a multimillion-dollar AIRCRAFT would have all the "teething pains" worked out PRIOR to being in full service
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    @Fartface
    January 10, 2013 6:48 am
    Of course the margins are so small....you have a union that believes that any profits Boeing makes should go to the union. The union workers have been compensated for their time and work, and Boeing is the one assuming all the risk with the investment. Pay the union F's what they agreed to work for and not a penny more. You can spew your propaganda all you want on this site, but you will never change my mind about unions. They are cancer to a company and it's employees.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @shark75
    January 12, 2013 12:55 am
    The only cancer... is the polyps on your brain when you bootlick the bosses and Wall street instead of supporting the workers who are trying to take care of their families. Now you know why republicans are about as popular with the working class as Ebenezer Scrooge in WA state. The only thing standing between workers and lower wages is WA workers are smart enough to organize and use a contract!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }