FAA orders inspections of Boeing 767s - Jan. 27, 2014

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)
The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering inspections of the Boeing 767, one of the aircraft maker's most popular commercial jets, to check for problems that it says could cause loss of control of the planes.

The problem being cited is something that the FAA and Boeing have been looking into since 2000, and the planes have already been subject to earlier inspections.
But the FAA, in a notice in the Federal Register on Monday, said it has determined that potential problems with rivets could cause "failures or jams" that affect the plane's ability to climb or descend. The failure could result in "possible loss of control of the airplane," the FAA said.
The problem has not been cited as a cause in any crash of a 767, which is one of the most widely-used Boeing jets. Boeing has delivered 1,061 of the long-range, widebody planes since it went into service in 1982.
Related: Airbus calls for wider seats on long flights
Some of the airlines objected to the proposed FAA action. United Continental (UAL, Fortune 500) filed comments arguing that previous inspections ordered by the FAA, along with service bulletins from Boeing, have addressed the risks being cited by the FAA in its new order. But the FAA rejected that argument.
Boeing (BA, Fortune 500) said it is working closely with the FAA on potential safety issues. "This is an ongoing and continuous process," it said.
The order takes effect March 3, and airlines must perform the inspections within 6,000 flight hours of that date for each aircraft.


First Published: January 27, 2014: 7:35 AM ET

 

How long would it take for a 767 to fly 6,000 hours? A couple years?

 

Depends on utilization, it could as little as a year if it's in an efficient rotation. Some airliners fly almost 20 hours/ day.