BANGKOK, Oct 9 (TNA) – The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has instructed two airlines, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air to inspect the Next-Generation Boeing 737 jets after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an airworthiness directive (AD) for 737 fuselage.
On Oct 3, FAA issued AD for all Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes following the cracks found on several 737 NG aircraft, in pickle forks where the wing is attached to the fuselage.
Following the FAA order, the CAAT clarified that the FAA’s AD required inspection for the aircraft with more than 30,000 flight cycles by October 10. Planes between 22,600 and 29,999 cycles must be inspected within 1,000 cycles, which generally correspond to the number of flights.
The CAAT said Thai Lion Air has 30 Boeing aircraft and the highest flight cycle of the fleet is 15,949 cycles, so all of the aircraft of the airlines do not fit the criteria that require them to be scrutinized.
Meanwhile, Nok Air has 14 Boeing 737 NG planes. One aircraft with more than 30,000 flight cycles, covered under the urgent order must be inspected by Oct 10 and the CAAT instructed Nok Air to do so by the deadline.
Its remaining 13 aircraft with more than 22,600 flight cycles must be checked within 1,000 flight cycles.
According to the FAA, this AD also requires repair of all cracking using a method approved by the FAA or The Boeing Company Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). This AD also requires sending a report of all results of the initial inspection to Boeing. (TNA)
