American Airlines grounded 14 Boeing 737-800s. These are planes that have undergone the ‘Oasis’ modification – to replace interiors with more seats; less comfortable seats; less distance between seats; less recline; no seat back video; and smaller lavatories plus bigger overhead bins.
All of the planes were modified by the same vendor, Aviation Technical Services. There were several problems identified with some aircraft including the way that overhead bins attached to the aircraft, and how wiring was done that raises potential safety concerns.
Apparently 18 aircraft were modified at the facility. Two were still there for work. Two had been initially thoroughly inspected as part of the certification process for the new interior. That left 14 planes modified from that vendor.
According to sources at American Airlines they scheduled the 14 aircraft to be out of service for two weeks.
American has been cancelling over 40 flights per day as a result of the out of service aircraft. They’ve proactive cancelled flights through the coming week, they aren’t taking it one day at a time, though they haven’t cancelled flights for the full 14 days.
Some aircraft could come back into service early. While they’re all being inspected we do not yet know the extent of the issue on all aircraft, or even if there are some aircraft that will be back promptly.
While this is being blamed on the third party vendor — inconvenient time for the airline as they negotiate a contract with their mechanics where a chief issue is outsourcing — another concern is American Airlines oversight and acceptance of the aircraft in substandard condition.
Any FAA consequences for vendor or American?
Imagine if they end up having to ground the MAX8s. They’ll be going out to the desert to see if any of those MD-80s will start…
Doug,
read carefully . It is the 737-800s that came in for modification, not the max. Let’s get the facts correct.
ryby,
I think you need to read carefully. Doug’s clearly stated point was that, if American has to ground the 737 MAX8s in addition to the 737-800s already out of service because of this maintenance issue, then that would be a logistical disaster for American, sending them to the desert looking for operational aircraft…
they should go ahead and rip out all the crappy thin seats while they’re at it and put it real seats.
At what point does labor and shareholders coalesce and take legal action against AA’s Board of Directors for willfull negligence by failing it’s expected role of stewardship requiring oversight and demanding accountability of its USAir management team—before serious safety issues and accidents?
How long will Parker be allowed to run AA like a “candy store” until it is too late?
NG
as it relates to the over head bins, this has to do specifically with the retro fit. The MAX is not a retrofit and the aircraft in question was not the MAX. It was the NG.
Therefore to imply or idly speculate that the MAX would have to be, or could be grounded, because of the problem with the overhead bins (specifically) is an inaccurate assertion.
Cheers!
Ryby,
I suspect Doug was likely referring to “If” American had to ground the 737 MAX due to possible issues with the MAX, not related to bins. See Lion and Ethiopian crashes and the MAX being grounded in China.
SR
RYBY
NG is talking about the MAX being potentially grounded due to a 2nd collision and the impact that would have in addition to the 800’s that were retro-fitted also being grounded.
Steve
I am booked on am American flight on the 737 MAX this friday night Nonstop to Las Vegas. I pull up my reservation and there are plenty of open seats yet American does not show the flight at all if you try and book a non stop flight to vegas. They show 2 flights available for sale. My flight leaves at 7:11 EST and gets to Vegas 9:39. This is really weird. I wonder what is going on.