Inaugural JQi 787 international service nearly diverts

[Austman]

was on the DPS-MEL sector of the inaugural JQi 787 MEL-DPS-MEL service yesterday. The first international flight of the new 787.

About an hour out of DPS we nearly diverted. I'd guess it would have been to DRW which was by then about as far away as DPS.

The 787 was making a huge noise (like a hair dryer/vacuum cleaner) with vibration about 2 thirds back in the Y cabin. It was coming from under the floor. If you stood in the area your whole body vibrated!

The captain inspected the issue and kept the pax well informed. It was announced that it was not safety related. The captain said has was in a 3-way conference call with JQ maintenance and Boeing. After again being told it was a non-safety related issue, the captain announced that he was more concerned with passenger comfort - the noise and vibration the the area were pretty bad. But the plane was far from full, so pax could be relocated away from the noisiest part. Apparently the most affect pax were consulted and stated that they preferred to continue to MEL which we did.

So it was quite nicely handled by the crew. I think it would have been a different result if the plane had been full.

I'm guessing it could have been an air-conditioning unit?

Unless it can be fixed today, I doubt if MEL-DPS will be operated by a 787 tonight.

 

[Mal]

Rogue freight could also be a cause...

 

[markis10]

Unless it can be fixed today, I doubt if MEL-DPS will be operated by a 787 tonight.

They do have more than 1 aircraft :shock:

 

[Austman]

Yes but only one operational 787 afaik. Number 2 was only delivered a few days ago ...

 

[samh004]

No news stories about the terror yet? They're practically Qantas aren't they?

 

[markis10]

Yes but only one operational 787 afaik. Number 2 was only delivered a few days ago ...

They are operational once they have their CofA, which is why the inaugural international started only yesterday, once they had a backup.

 

[Austman]

They are operational once they have their CofA, which is why the inaugural international started only yesterday, once they had a backup.

Good to know. How do operators with just 1 aircraft do it? Is that not possible in Australia?

From the JetStar Source JetStar News | VH-VKB (the 2nd 787) has not flown a commercial flight yet.

 

[markis10]

Good to know. How do operators with just 1 aircraft do it? Is that not possible in Australia?

From the JetStar Source JetStar News | VH-VKB (the 2nd 787) has not flown a commercial flight yet.

Having a backup is a commercial policy, not a safety one, so others just fly without a backup. Just because VKB has yet to fly a commercial flight is not relevant, they are delivered ready to go, and not flying could well be a crewing issue or maybe JQ have learnt from their HNL issues, no QF backup in DPS.

 

[Austman]

Having a backup is a commercial policy, not a safety one, so others just fly without a backup. Just because VKB has yet to fly a commercial flight is not relevant, they are delivered ready to go, and not flying could well be a crewing issue or maybe JQ have learnt from their HNL issues, no QF backup in DPS.

It's relevant because up to today JQ have not used their 2nd 787 commercially (for whatever commercial reasons they might have). So I suspect any back-up, if even needed today, will be an A330.

 

[under the radar]

I suspect any back-up, if needed today, will be an A330.

NO airline GUARANTEES/PROMISES (2 words that so many travellers like to use)... a particular aircraft type/seat product on a particular flight... if anyone can find that airline...let me know...

 

[Austman]

NO airline GUARANTEES a particular aircraft type/seat product on a particular flight...except maybe an airline that only has ONE aircraft type/seat product!! if anyone can find that airline...let me know

Of course. But having a back-up of the same aircaft type makes late substitutions easier (due same capacity, seating arrangement, crewing etc). Today's 787 flight MEL-DPS-MEL has lots of seats still for sale. So moving to a smaller aircraft (if they even need to) would be relatively easy.

 

[Happy Trails]

NO airline GUARANTEES/PROMISES (2 words that so many travellers like to use)... a particular aircraft type/seat product on a particular flight... if anyone can find that airline...let me know...

....Ryanair?

 

[under the radar]

....Ryanair?

i expected 1 or 2 of these type of responses...i specifically stated if an airline GUARANTEES/PROMISES...just because an airline has one aircraft type/seating it still doesnt state it GUARANTEES/PROMISES..sometimes if 'things dont go to plan'...an airline may put you on another airline

 

[NFF]

Do you think 787 has been plagued by trouble since its launch ?

 

[straitman]

Do you think 787 has been plagued by trouble since its launch ?

No more or less than any other new aircraft.

 

[RooFlyer]

was on the DPS-MEL sector of the inaugural JQi 787 MEL-DPS-MEL service yesterday. The first international flight of the new 787.

About an hour out of DPS we nearly diverted. I'd guess it would have been to DRW which was by then about as far away as DPS.

The 787 was making a huge noise (like a hair dryer/vacuum cleaner) with vibration about 2 thirds back in the Y cabin. It was coming from under the floor. If you stood in the area your whole body vibrated!

The captain inspected the issue and kept the pax well informed. It was announced that it was not safety related. The captain said has was in a 3-way conference call with JQ maintenance and Boeing. After again being told it was a non-safety related issue, the captain announced that he was more concerned with passenger comfort - the noise and vibration the the area were pretty bad. But the plane was far from full, so pax could be relocated away from the noisiest part. Apparently the most affect pax were consulted and stated that they preferred to continue to MEL which we did.

So it was quite nicely handled by the crew. I think it would have been a different result if the plane had been full.

I'm guessing it could have been an air-conditioning unit?

Unless it can be fixed today, I doubt if MEL-DPS will be operated by a 787 tonight.

I'm glad the flight was safe, and the Captain was satisfied that there was no safety issue. But I wonder how he thus satisfied himself, especially if the noise and vibration was as described by the OP? I suspect the conclusion was reached in conversation with Boeing and the sensors on board: "Ah, yes Captain, we've had that reported before .... " But I guess they 'determined' what was creating the noise / vibration - but then comes the question - what caused the 'unit' (whatever) to go u/s? Its that last bit that would concern me. What else is happening down there, that might affect another unit in a few minutes?

 

[casanovawa]

I guess SIN-EWR on SQ was fairly likely to be a A340-500 simply as i don't think any other aircraft had the range to do this flight...

But was a black eye that would have been for JQ if the inaugural 787 flight had turned back for maintenance issues?!?!?

 

[casanovawa]

No more or less than any other new aircraft.

The DC 10 had a pretty rough introduction didn't it??

 

[mannej]

The DC 10 had a pretty rough introduction didn't it??

So did the A320 courtesy of scarefrance...

 

[casanovawa]

Yes, flying it into a forest doesn't really help, but the DC 10's reputation didn't seem to recover like the A320s did...