HIGH INSPECTION COSTS MAY SPUR RETIREMENT OF AGING TRANSPORTS

Strict and costly federal regulations for inspection of older-model Boeing 737s, due to be issued this week, are the first of many actions to address maintenance and inspection issues of all aging aircraft types. These airworthiness directives, detailing inspections of the first 291 737s produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, are considered a conservative response to federal concerns for the safety of aging transports. The 291 aircraft are those that used a cold-bonding process at fuselage lap joints. Federal estimates of inspection costs range from $46-64 million, conservative estimates if chemical stripping of fuselage paint is required. Airlines agree that a stepped-up inspection program is needed, primarily to certify that the aircraft are safe. The Air Transport Association believes, however, that the FAA is adding unnecessary steps to the process of airworthiness directives. Their concerns are voiced in this article.