
“We’ve also incorporated additional training and more rigorous clean-as-you-go practices and FOD awareness days … across the company.” Nothing has been a higher priority than this issue, he added. “We have implemented preventative action plans,” he said. Ramey said Boeing is conducting additional company and customer inspections of the jets to get at the issue. “I think it is important to note that none of the FOD-findings have impacted safety of flight.” 1 priority,” Boeing spokesman Charles Ramey said. “We Boeing are very committed to delivering FOD-free aircraft to the Air Force. The service began accepting the tankers again in April, according to the Air Force.īoeing said the company is continuing to work with the service on solving the issue. “We have got corrective action in place, including 100 percent look at some of those closed compartments to make sure that the production line is being run the way that it needs to be run,” Wilson said. The Air Force accepted its first delivery of the tanker in January, but has since halted deliveries of the aircraft twice due to the discovery of foreign object debris, or FOD.įormer Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson confirmed during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in April that deliveries of the aircraft had been paused for a second time due to debris in some closed compartments.

The company has recently faced bouts of criticism from government officials and watchdogs over design issues, problems with foreign object debris and late deliveries. is predicting the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker program will meet its key performance goals.īoeing won the $4.9 billion fixed-price incentive contract in 2011 to build the tanker after successfully protesting a previous award to Airbus. Virgin Australia Group remains in discussions with aircraft manufacturers on a fleet strategy to support the reintroduction of widebody services when long-haul international travel demand returns.Following years of delays and high-profile snafus, the Boeing Co. With support from Boeing, any new aircraft will undergo careful evaluation to ensure we are comfortable with it prior to entering service.” “We will also continue to invest in capability that delivers a safe and efficient aircraft operation, and one that ensures safety remains our top priority.

“These enhancements will give us the ability to manage demand and deploy the B737 MAX 10 on high-density domestic and short-haul international routes or where there are constraints due to slot availability limitations. This, alongside design features such as the Boeing Sky Interior and higher seating capacity, make for a better product for customers and the environment. Recognising the recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX by the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators, Virgin Australia Group remains confident that global return to service plans will support its arrival in mid-2023. “The MAX 10 will allow us to build on the operational flexibility we have been able to achieve with our existing fleet throughout administration to ensure we remain competitive on the other side of COVID-19.”

“The restructured agreement and changes to the delivery schedule of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 gives us the flexibility to continually review our future fleet requirements, particularly as we wait for international travel demand to return. “We have already moved to simplify our mainline fleet and committed to the Boeing 737 aircraft as the backbone of our future domestic and short-haul international operations,” Ms Hrdlicka said. Virgin Australia Group CEO and Managing Director Jayne Hrdlicka said the agreement represents a deep commitment to the future from the airline’s new owners, Bain Capital, and will allow Virgin Australia to appropriately manage future fleet requirements amid what has been the worst year in the history of aviation. The airline will no longer receive the B737 MAX 8. The restructured order book now consists of 25 B737 MAX 10 aircraft which are scheduled for delivery from mid-2023, providing greater efficiencies to the airline as well as a better flying experience for customers. 09 December 2020: Virgin Australia Group has announced it has reached an agreement with Boeing to restructure its B737 MAX order and delivery schedule.
