Ten years have passed since the All Nippon Airways (ANA / NH) Boeing 787 (787-8, registration code JA801A) first landed at Haneda Airport on September 28, 2011. It was handed over to the launch customer ANA at 8 am local time on the 25th (midnight on the 26th Japan time) at the Everett factory near Seattle, and many people were greeted by the observation deck when arriving at Haneda on the 28th. ..
Line up in front of 787 (from left) ANA Kawai Manager, Asai Manager, Qingdao Manager. Ten years have passed since the world’s first receipt of the 787=PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
The 787, which Boeing named “Dreamliner”, is now There are three models, the standard 787-8, the long-body 787-9, and the ultra-long-body 787-10, and ANA has introduced all of them. As of September 28, we have received a total of 75 aircraft, including 36 787-8s, 37 787-9s, and 2 787-10s. According to Boeing’s backlog, 8 787-9s and 12 aircraft. A total of 20 787-10s are waiting to be received.
35% of the structural parts of the aircraft are manufactured by Japanese companies. ANA’s 787 has adopted a warm water toilet seat “Washlet” in the lavatory (restroom). As for the appearance, the first and second units (JA802A) are specially painted, the front fuselage is drawn large with “787”, and the line intersecting the indigo color at the rear expresses “ANA network” and “ANA product service brand”. bottom.
At Haneda Airport ANA’s first 787 landing JA801A=September 28, 2011 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
The world’s first commercial operation by 787 is 2011 NH7871 flight charter to Hong Kong departing Narita on October 26, 2014. After that, it was launched as a regular flight, and the first domestic flight was NH651 from Haneda to Okayama on November 1, and the first international flight was NH1255 from Haneda to Beijing on January 14, 2012.
ANA’s 787, which was first delivered in the world, was also the first to undergo a C-check (heavy maintenance) of the aircraft, which is likened to an automobile inspection, and went from June to July 2014. I was broken. The C-check is conducted approximately every one and a half to two years, the second is conducted from April to May 2017, and the most recent C-check is completed from February to March 2020.
The fuselage is made of CFRP (carbon fiber composite material), and the computer-controlled part has increased compared to existing machines such as the 777. What kind of decade has it been for the mechanics who have watched over the aircraft with many new technologies?
— Article Summary —
・ Unbreakable CFRP
・ Software is stable
・ Proposal for repair even after service
Unbreakable CFRP
CFRP contributes to weight reduction of the aircraft However, maintenance work requires work and inspections that are different from conventional aluminum. For example, while parked at an airport, there are cases where a vehicle loading a cargo container collides with it. Aluminum could be dealt with by sheet metal, but CFRP may appear undamaged by appearance alone.
World’s first 787 C check performed in 2014=June 2014 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
ANA Manager Asai=PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
ANA maintenance who witnessed the receipt inspection of 787 as a mechanic Yuki Asai, Manager of the Dock Maintenance Department of the Center Aircraft Business Office, said, “Because it is vulnerable to impact, it may have peeled off inside. We are checking for (cracks), “he said, saying that it is necessary to inspect from a different perspective than existing machines.
Be careful when repair work occurs. Wataru Kawai, manager of the technical planning team of the engineering department of the maintenance center, said, “CFRP is difficult to bond, and we are working to control the temperature and prevent air bubbles from entering.” ..
Mr. Asai says, “CFRP usually does not break. If it breaks, it will be difficult.” Makoto Qingdao, manager of the dock maintenance department, said, “CFRP requires temperature and humidity control, and non-destructive inspection requirements are quite strict.”
Software is stable
The 787 has many parts that have been replaced by electric control instead of hydraulic control, and computer control has also increased. “In the case of flood control, the main inspections were air bleeding, normal operation, and oil leaks. The 787 also includes inspections to see if the electrical system is properly connected,” said Mr. Asai. Spread.
ANA’s first 787 JA801A=April 2017 PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
ANA Manager Kawai=PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / April Wire
In the case of the spoiler on the main wing, 2 out of 7 on each side are electrically powered electric spoilers, and the remaining 5 are hydraulically controlled. Flood control has also evolved and is said to be smaller than in the past.
While the scope of inspection work has expanded, the system for supporting mechanics has also been enhanced. “The test has evolved a lot. When you select a test item on the CMC (Central Maintenance Computer), it also checks the connection etc. If the test does not pass, wiring (wiring diagram) what went wrong I will chase after you “(Mr. Asai).
Mr. Kawai described the 787, which has advanced computer control, as “It’s the same as a personal computer. If it’s a car, it’s like Tesla (an electric car).” “Sometimes it was a software problem that the mechanic couldn’t fix even if he worked according to the manual,” said Kawai.
Mr. Asai said, “Until now, even if the cause was found by looking at the broken item, the mechanic, the staff of the technical department, and the manufacturer often cooperated to deal with it. There was also a change in the way the problem was solved.
“In the past, there were cases where it was normal even if a message was sent to inform you of a problem, but software repairs have progressed and it has become stable,” (Mr. Asai) said in 10 years. Aging has progressed.
Proposal for repair even after service
Some of the aircraft’s structure and equipment in the cabin were also proposed to Boeing for refurbishment during operation.
ANA’s first 787 JA801A=May 2017 PHOTO : Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
ANA Qingdao Manager=PHOTO : Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA / Aviation Wire
“I thought that water wouldn’t collect well in the radome of the nose, and when I looked closely, the seal was quite broken. I explained to Boeing and asked him to change the material of the seal. The overhead bin (baggage storage shelf) in the guest room was also redesigned because the plastic bag sometimes fell off at the beginning. However, I temporarily put on a non-slip, “says Kawai.
ANA received its first 787-9 (JA830A) on July 27, 2014. NH241 flight from Haneda to Fukuoka on August 7th of the same year became the world’s first regular flight by 787-9. The 787-10, which has the longest fuselage, went into service on April 26, 2019, and the first flight was NH801 (JA900A) from Narita to Singapore.
What is the difference in maintenance of the three types of 787s? Mr. Asai said, “Because the weight is heavy, we are strengthening the tires and brakes, but there is no big difference in maintenance work. For the cabin, it is necessary to strengthen the air conditioning as it gets larger,” although there are differences in details. , It seems that there is no big difference except for the difference in part numbers.
In February 2020, ANA placed an additional order for up to 20 787s. Until now, all of them used the Rolls-Royce engine Trent 1000, but for the additional part, GE GEnx-1B was selected. In addition, the 787 for domestic flights that will be received in the future will be equipped with a new seat, similar to the new specification aircraft of the 777-200ER that went into service in November 2019.
The 787 will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary. It can be said that improvements based on feedback from the field have entered a stable period and have become the main equipment for both domestic and international flights.
Related Links
All Nippon Airways
Boeing Boeing Japan
Additional order in February 2008
・ Ordered up to 20 additional ANA and 787 aircraft First adoption of GEnx engine (February 25, 2008)
Photo Feature-ANA787 First Unit 2nd Heavy Maintenance
・ Overhaul of 787 flying for the longest time (January 9, 2018)
World’s first 787 heavy maintenance
・ ANA, the world’s first 787 heavy maintenance photo special feature, JA801A first C check (June 30, 2014)
Photo Feature-ANA787 First Unit JA801A Repaint
Part 1 Goodbye “Saba” painting (March 4, 2017)
Part 2 787 logo disappears and unified with other models (March 6, 2017)
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・ ANA 787, in service 5 The first flight of the anniversary is a charter to Hong Kong (October 27, 2016)
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