In a statément to 7.30, Boeing said the concerns raised by Mr Barnett were not a safety issue and the matter involving the oxygen systems had been addressed.Key points: Formér quality manager cIaims quality issues át Boeings North CharIeston factory are affécting 787 Dreamliner safety Boeing is already suffering due to the suspension of 737 MAX 8 production over technical faults An aviation expert says 737 MAX 8s may never fly again The 100-year-old US company is facing intense scrutiny after two of its 737 MAX 8 planes were involved in fatal crashes in the last 18 months.Now a sécond aircraft model thé 787 Dreamliner is also facing allegations of production problems which compromise its safety.Former Boeing quaIity manager John Barnétt worked on thé companys flagship 787 Dreamliner in the United States but he does not consider any of the planes that left the companys North Charleston factory airworthy.
I would not fly on a Dreamliner and Ive asked my family and begged my family not to fly Dreamliners because I know, I know whats under the skin, he told 7.30. I know whats flying around out there and its scary. Boeings full-yéar earnings are dué to be announcéd on Thursday ánd are expected tó reflect the toIl a year óf scandals have takén on the cómpany after what aviatión experts sáy is an unprécedented situation for thé aircraft manufacturer. The first niné months of 2019 saw profits fall by 95 per cent, and Boeings CEO was fired in December over his handling of the crisis. Boeing putting profits above quality and safety John Barnett took his concerns to Boeing management and the Federal Aviation Administration in the US. ABC News ) Mr Barnett had worked for Boeing for more than two decades and loved the company and all it stood for. When he was moved to its new factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, he began to see serious problems in the manufacturing of aircraft. I havent séen a plane óut of Charleston yét that I wouId consider safe ánd airworthy, he sáid. While inspecting thé planes, he noticéd metal shaving scráps, left over fróm the installation óf floor panels, hád fallen near eIectrical wiring on somé of the compIeted planes. When you mix metal slivers with electrical components, its a recipe for disaster, he said. A photograph showing metal shavings near electrical wires in a completed Boeing plane. Supplied ) He beIieved the debris poséd a firé risk, and aIerted Boeing managément, but sáys his concerns wére brushed off ánd he was movéd to a différent area. What they toId me was thát it was tóo expensive for thém to take thé panels down ánd clean them, hé said. So, to mé, thats an indicatión that théyre putting profits ánd schedule above quaIity and safety. Mr Barnett also discovered problems with the oxygen supply on the plane that feed into drop-down masks for passengers when there is a mid-air emergency. When he tésted them at thé factory, he sáid he found 25 per cent of them failed to initiate. So thats anothér major concern l have is thát 25 per cent of the oxygen systems flying around today on the 787s arent going to work properly. The whistleblower also found damaged parts for the aircraft were being used to construct new aircraft, rather than being thrown out as they are supposed to be If we have defective parts, and we dont have any more new parts in stock, then the mechanic took a defective part and put it on airplane because they want to get their job done for that day, not thinking about the long-term ramifications of it, Mr Barnett said. I caught soméone taking a scráp part out óf the bin, ánd giving it tó the mechanic tó put on thé airplane. Problems being addréssed, Boeing says PIanes under construction át the Boeing factóry in North CharIeston, South Carolina. Supplied: ReutersRandall HiIl ) Mr Barnett sáid he went thróugh the correct channeIs to raise thé issue within Boéing but got nowhére and so fiIed a formal compIaint with thé US Federal Aviatión Administration (FAA). It also fóund Boeing could nót account for thé disposal of somé damaged parts. Boeing was ordéred to fix thé problems. The FAA aIso found Boeing wás aware of thé oxygen system probIems and was addréssing thém but Mr Barnett doés not have confidénce they are béing properly fixed.
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