TWO of the world's largest operators of Boeing 747 aircraft, atlas Air and Cathay Pacific, have already started work on inspecting their freighter aircraft after concerns emerged over the early degradation of the lightning protection systems.
Earlier this month, the US Federal Aviation Administration (F) issued an airworthiness directive ordering all US-registered 747 operators to carry out inspections.
Boeing has also issued a multi-operator message on November 13 recommending that the inspection work is completed, reports London's Air Cargo News.
An Atlas Air company spokesperson said that it had been aware of the inspection order and had got ahead in carrying out the work.
At Atlas, the safety of our employees and aircraft are always of the highest priority, the spokesperson said.
The company has been aware of the F s requirement to perform inspections on fuel-tank lightning-protection features on all Boeing 747 variants for some time now.
Accordingly, we have proactively, with Boeing and the F, performed these inspections on several our 747 aircraft already, and we will continue to do so for all 747s in our fleet, in accordance with the F s airworthiness directive.
We do not expect this to result in disruptions to our operations.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings and its affiliates are reported to operate fifty-six 747s, more than any other US carrier.
Cathay Cargo, which has a fleet 20 freighters - six 747-400ERFs and 14 747-8Fs - has also already started carrying out the checks.
Following the F s mandate issued on November 30, which directs checks to be conducted on all 747 aircraft within 120 days, Cathay Cargo is working through the impact of this and expects to adjust its schedules in order to comply with the mandate.
The F directive gives freighter operators 120 days to comply, while operators of passenger 747s have 90 days.
SeaNews Turkey
Earlier this month, the US Federal Aviation Administration (F) issued an airworthiness directive ordering all US-registered 747 operators to carry out inspections.
Boeing has also issued a multi-operator message on November 13 recommending that the inspection work is completed, reports London's Air Cargo News.
An Atlas Air company spokesperson said that it had been aware of the inspection order and had got ahead in carrying out the work.
At Atlas, the safety of our employees and aircraft are always of the highest priority, the spokesperson said.
The company has been aware of the F s requirement to perform inspections on fuel-tank lightning-protection features on all Boeing 747 variants for some time now.
Accordingly, we have proactively, with Boeing and the F, performed these inspections on several our 747 aircraft already, and we will continue to do so for all 747s in our fleet, in accordance with the F s airworthiness directive.
We do not expect this to result in disruptions to our operations.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings and its affiliates are reported to operate fifty-six 747s, more than any other US carrier.
Cathay Cargo, which has a fleet 20 freighters - six 747-400ERFs and 14 747-8Fs - has also already started carrying out the checks.
Following the F s mandate issued on November 30, which directs checks to be conducted on all 747 aircraft within 120 days, Cathay Cargo is working through the impact of this and expects to adjust its schedules in order to comply with the mandate.
The F directive gives freighter operators 120 days to comply, while operators of passenger 747s have 90 days.
SeaNews Turkey
