Dreamliners or Nightmares: Why Has India bought the troubled Boeing 787

Being based in the Caribbean, I can tell you that equipment "suffers " differently when permanently exposed to warm, moist and windy environment.
Excessive exposure to UV rays can reduce the lifetime of plastics, wiring insulation, plexyglass, electronics and so on......
This affects even the best equipment

Empirically speaking, when comparing the "composite" fleet, Air India has four times as many Airbuses as 787's. And which ones are breaking in an inordinately higher proportion?

Depending on one's point of view (or sense of nationalism) one could claim that these are just teething problems (some major), or you could say this airplane is indeed a "maintenance turkey" because it was built by committee and outsourced in too many directions -- in an attempt to leapfrog Airbus in areas pioneered by them 30 years ago. IMHO the plane is a "Zebra."

All one has to do is read in detail the full Wikipedia entry, among other sources of information, before one jumps conclusions which attempt to cloak the 787's problems by killing the many messengers, or by blaming Third World countries.

The underlying current of superiority and nationalism, as seen so often in the comments on this subject, are very obvious. ("We're the best and our airplanes are the best." ) Therefore it's the Third World MRO's fault for buggering up these thoroughbreds--they're really not zebras at all.

Fact is, there are more 787's based in the First and Second World, and Asia, than there are in the "Third World." But yet, the problems continue to be reported from all "Worlds" -- not just the New Delhi Times.

One has to ask; how come those Third World MRO's aren't breaking other modern (composite) airplanes--or is it that these 787's are indeed a lot more fragile and finicky? Hard to admit?

"Boeing Dreamliners operated by Air India reported serious faults just before the takeoff from New Delhi to Birmingham and Sydney. Air India flight Number AI 113 flying to Birmingham experienced a technical snag of a most unusual nature when the flight deck doors failed to shut properly. Despite repeated efforts, the problem could not be fixed and eventually Air India had to arrange another Dreamliner to fly the already harassed 126 passengers to Birmingham. The flight, scheduled to depart at 13:35 hours, was delayed by 90 minutes."

If AI can only find 126 people who want to go to England, then perhaps delays of 90 minutes are not their biggest problem.

sure but these planes are brand new ,if that's the case I hate to them three years from now .

So Air India had "a technical snag of a most unusual nature when the flight deck doors failed to shut properly."

To operate a door, one must first be smarter than the door.

The 787 is a great aircraft, and I am looking forward to flying on one soon!!!

It is no secret that the early 787s which Air India is flying have unfortunately suffered maintenance issues some very serious regardless of the airline operating them, or their maintenance record.

I have not heard much about maintenance issues with the current 787 deliveries.

Two other things of note. Unfortunately regardless if it's Boeing or Airbus planes have more maintenance issues than most of the flying public would ever want to know or think about. Thank goodness the majority of them are not serious.

Secondly this article is very poorly written by someone who obviously does not like Boeing for what ever reason.

"AI’s Dreamliner fleet did 9,902 take offs till June, 2014 — and as many as 318 of those flights faced 'service delays attributed to technical snags'."

While other issues might cause service delays, that computes to a mechanical/technical dispatch rate of 99.97%. That seems pretty good to me.

Call a friggin Waaaahmbulance. The Indian MRO's lack of qualifications alone and reputation for buggering up anything they get their mitts on is the main cause. Other airlines have had probs with the 787, but not like AI has and the whole Indian aircraft industry is suspect right from the start. MY OPINION!

I regret this topic and here is why. Boeing's 787 is relatively new to the industry; However, the company is as old as they come with a proven track record of making great aircraft. This "Dreamliner" attempts to be the answer Boeing gives to its most feared competitor AIRBUS. How many troubles did Airbus go through a decade ago, & is still going through with maintenance & fatalities? I would not fly on an Airbus or any of Boeings newer aircraft. Composites & computers that second guess or override a Captains & his crews decision are not for me.

Give me the 737, 747, MD80, MD90.

I don't think the travelling public like the plane too much either. Go to SeatGuru and look at the comments about BA's 787 - they are not flattering.

Sorry, but you won't see me booking a flight on a 787 for at least another five years.

Dredging up a compendium of historical "snags" (typical British terminology) on a still relatively young and revolutionary airplane design is nothing more than prejudicial editorializing that should be disregarded for what it is, an opinion hit piece.

Pushpak bête, do not confuse ideology with reality. Born and bred in Bangalore long before you, it am confident in my assessment. I still love my mother country for what it gave to me to go on.

This particular problem has to do with a design fault with the General Electric Engines Air India chose and is not a problem with 787 with the RR Engines. Other Airlines with the GE engines are not being grounded for the technical fix only this one AI plane that we know off. This does not speak well of AI maintenance that Boeing the FAA and Korea would all come together to ground one aircraft from yet another country.

The problem is not with the design of the plane but with a vendor supplied stand alone part, the engine from GE. For reasons of its own Boeing has seen fit to take this problem on as its own. This to me speaks highly of Boeing and why I stand by this motto; "IF it ain't Boeing I ain't going."

India's ATC has been critized for being suspect for years. Perhaps the same could be said about AI.All commercial aircraft have delays and major cost overruns. Too many comments on Flight Aware degenerate into an Airbus/Boeing fistfight. Both companies make excellent aircraft. The attempt by Boeing to outsource much of the production for the 787 was admirable because it gave employment to several countries. However the main culprit in the delay was the choice of the firm which made the fasteners which were substandard. The choice of lithium batteries and the troubles they caused was unfortunate. These batteries are state of the art but because of the power required on this state of the art aircraft when full of passengers the heat generated was sort of an unknown. No lives lost and corrections have been successful. Quite frankly I would not fly AI regardless of what aircraft they fly.

What kinda bothers me is that these little glitches are being confined to 3rd world airlines; Either that or thy are not being reported by other majors. Makes you wonder about overall mx.

Well then it's the perfect plane for an airline the likes of Air India.

Dump it to the Indians, they will take anything if they think it is a status symbol, including being left out the loop in 787 problems........twisted thinking!