Sunday, April 15, 2012

Tornadoes hit Boeing Defense plant and Spirit's plants in Wichita, production of 787 and 737 uncertain

Boeing was dealt a body blow on Saturday when tornadoes ripped through Wichita and severely damaged Boeing's BDS plants as well as the plants for Spirit AeroSystems 737 and 787 operations.

Thankfully there weren't any injuries or fatalities but production of 737 and the forward fuselage of the 787 may be severely impacted due to the power outage and damage caused by the storm.

Right now Spirit is telling employees not to report for work through Tuesday as they are still conducting damage assessments. Spirit is just one of a handful of Boeing 787 suppliers that have had very little issues with producing their work share of the 787. This could set Boeing back though if it does and by how much is still uncertain though Spirit is saying most of their capabilities are still intact. I don't know what they mean by capabilities.

From the photos that Spirit had posted on Flickr, the damage at least externally, looks to be pretty severe. I will try to follow this and report what impact, if any, these tornadoes have on 787 production.

4 comments:

  1. Hey Uresh,
    Thanks for the update and I also noticed that you added the delivery of JA-808A.

    I might have a few updates for you. And I also think you have made 1 error in you table.
    ZA288/LN53 should be United.
    That makes sense with the ZA numbers if you order them by the number you get this:

    Airline L/N ZA nr
    ANA 7 ZA100
    ANA 8 ZA101
    ANA 9 ZA102
    ANA 24 ZA103
    ANA 41 ZA104
    ANA 42 ZA105
    ANA 22 ZA115
    ANA 31 ZA116
    ANA 40 ZA117
    ANA 67 ZA118
    ANA 69 ZA119
    ANA 66 ZA135
    Royal Air Maroc 17 ZA150
    Royal Air Maroc 19 ZA151
    JAL 20 ZA175
    JAL 21 ZA176
    JAL 23 ZA177
    JAL 27 ZA178
    JAL 33 ZA179
    Japan Airlines 37 ZA180
    Japan Airlines 38 ZA181
    Japan Airlines 65 ZA182
    Air India 25 ZA230
    Air India 26 ZA231
    Air India 28 ZA232
    Air India 29 ZA233
    Air India 30 ZA234
    Air India 32 ZA235
    Air India 35 ZA236
    Air India 46 ZA237
    Air India 54 ZA238
    Air India 70 ZA240
    Air India 72 ZA241
    Ethiopian 39 ZA260
    Ethiopian 44 ZA261
    Ethiopian 49 ZA262
    Ethiopian 71 ZA263
    Ethiopian 75 ZA264
    Lot 61 ZA270
    United 45 ZA285
    United 50 ZA286
    United 52 ZA287
    ANA 53 ZA288
    United 55 ZA289
    China Southern 34 ZA380
    China Southern 36 ZA381
    China Southern 43 ZA382
    Hainan Airlines 73 ZA430
    Qatar Airways 57 ZA460
    Qatar Airways 58 ZA461
    Qatar Airways 60 ZA462
    Qatar Airways 62 ZA463
    Qatar Airways 64 ZA464
    ANA 11 ZA500
    ANA 12 ZA501
    ANA 13 ZA502
    ANA 14 ZA503
    ANA 15 ZA504
    ANA 18 ZA505
    ANA 47 ZA506
    ANA 48 ZA507
    ANA 51 ZA508
    ANA 56 ZA509
    ANA 59 ZA510
    ANA 63 ZA511
    LAN 10 ZA534
    LAN 16 ZA535
    LAN 68 ZA536
    LAN 74 ZA537

    also on http://www.flickr.com/photos/flightblogger/6900672303/in/photostream/ it shows it as a United frame.


    also http://kpae.blogspot.com/2012/04/paine-field-april-6.html shows that l/n 50 was moved from the emc.

    Hope it helps. Thanks for al the hard work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. it also seems there has been a line move.
    http://lotnictwo.net.pl/263-polskie_linie_lotnicze/147-polskie_linie_lotnicze_lot/148-flota_lot/42899-pierwszy_dreamliner_dla_pll_lot_informacje_opinie-3.html
    shows ln/61 on position 3 :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maby good news:
    http://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE233

    L/n29 seems to fly again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ZA233 now en route, Lackland - Everett

    ReplyDelete