787 safety update

American aviation regulators have ordered a wide review of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, citing "concern" over a spate of technical problems in recent weeks.  Some of them are clearly day to day problems, typically an ANA cracked windscreen.  Any difficulty associated with the aircraft is getting headlines.

Regulators said the 787 remains safe but a thorough examination was needed to identify the root cause of the problems including a fire on a parked aircraft.

"There are concerns about recent events involving the Boeing 787.  That is why today we are conducting a comprehensive review", US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a news conference.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that the review will put an emphasis on the 787's advanced electrical systems and cover their design, manufacture and assembly.

The move comes on top of a separate probe by US safety investigators into a battery fire which caused "serious damage" to an empty Japan Airlines' 787 jet at Boston. 

With any entirely new aircraft usually there are introduction problems, the 747 affected by a series of engine failures, and more recently the Airbus A380 with cracked wings.  The 787 continues in service with 49 delivered to eight airlines (see United and the 787). www.boeing.com/commercial

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