Boeing Defends Quality of Its Wide-Body Jets

Boeing Co. officials on Tuesday defended their wide-body jets against complaints of serious quality control problems from at least three airlines.

Phil Condit, executive vice president for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said recent publicity about the complaints against its 747s and 767s stemmed partly from the company’s open way of dealing with its problems, which has made many workers aware of items that need improving.

“Air transportation is the safest transportation mode there is” and is getting even safer because airlines, manufacturers and regulatory agencies work together to identify and correct problems, Condit said.

“I could not be prouder than I am about the kind of employee we have in this country. The people are dedicated and proud of what they build,” he told reporters at Boeing’s Everett plant, where the wide bodies are made.

One airline complained specifically that the aerospace company’s workers seemed oblivious that defects could compromise an aircraft’s safety.

Boeing’s news conference came one day after the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it has issued 50 directives in the last two years telling airlines to fix various problems with Boeing jets.

None Linked to Crashes

The most recent warning was issued Friday concerning possible fuel leaks in the cargo area of Boeing’s 747-200 series of jets. The leaks can be caused by a bolt giving way in a wing section, and the FAA ordered airlines to inspect them before returning the planes to service.

Boeing officials said the order applied to 317 operating 747-200s.

Airlines, Boeing and FAA officials have said that none of the defects cited has been linked to a crash or other major damage.

However, Friday’s directive warned, “Fuel in this compartment could result in a fire and substantial damage.”

Nick Wantiez of the Seattle FAA office said Tuesday that the directive came after reports of incidents by Japan Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Lufthansa, Air India, Aerolineas Argentinas and a leasing company, starting Nov. 21 with a JAL report in Los Angeles of a fuel leak.

Condit said the recent publicity presented only a “snapshot” view of Boeing’s continuing efforts to see how its planes can be improved.

He also said Boeing has become more open with its workers and has shared letters of complaint from airline customers with top managers and their staffs. That openness makes it more likely the public will hear about the complaints, he said.

Wantiez said the agency has expanded its normal monitoring of production at Boeing to include recent complaints by airlines, which range from wrong parts to incorrectly installed firefighting systems.