A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 (LN2318) on final approach after a pre-delivery test flight at dusk.
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The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday ordered airlines to inspect some stored Boeing 737 aircraft for corrosion that could lead to engine shutdown, as hundreds of planes remain idle due to a drop in demand amid the pandemic of coronavirus.
The request for inspections on planes that have not been operated for a week or more will affect about 2,000 planes in the U.S., the FAA said. The orders are unrelated to the Boeing 737 Max, which has been in the world since March 2019 after two fatal accidents.
Boeing said it advised older 737 aircraft operators to inspect engine valves for corrosion. The airworthiness directive came after four reports of single-engine shutdowns caused by engine air bleeding that got stuck, the FAA said in its order.
“With aircraft stored or used infrequently due to lower demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the valve may be more susceptible to corrosion,” the manufacturer said in a statement.
American Airlines said four of its more than 300 Boeing 737 NG aircraft were inspected and authorized. The airline’s operations are not expected to be disrupted, American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said.
Southwest Airlines, which operates a fleet of Boeing 737s, said it “has not experienced the conditions outlined in the directive,” but is reviewing the order to see if it applies to its planes.
“Currently, we do not anticipate any disruption to our operation as we work to review storage aircraft that are affected by AD,” the Dallas-based airline said in a statement.
Delta Air Lines also said it does not expect any impact on its operation or flight schedule.
“Our commitment to safety for our customers and individuals requires that we meet and exceed all of our regulators’ directives, including airworthiness directives,” the carrier said in a statement. “We will ensure compliance with this directive, as nothing is more important at Delta than the safety of our customers and individuals.”
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