FAA urges changes
Staff and wire
in older 737sWASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration today proposed mandatory changes in the fuel system wiring and vent systems of early model Boeing 737s, the most commonly used commercial airplane in the world.
The proposed airworthiness directive, which grew out of the TWA Flight 800 crash investigation, would require installation of electrical surge suppression systems or the shielding and separation of wiring routed to the plane's fuel tanks from nearby wiring.
In addition, the directive would require the installation of flame arrestors and pressure relief valves in the plane's fuel vent system, steps aimed at keeping flames outside the 737 from entering the fuel system via wingtip fuel vents.
The proposed directive, which would require compliance within one year, has now entered a 45-day comment period.
The FAA estimated the cost of the changes at $36,000 per plane.
"We believe it is raising the safety bar," a senior FAA official said told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
"We believe a year to do that is appropriate."
Both orders stem from the investigation into the explosion of TWA Flight 800 and mirror a proposed airworthiness directive the FAA issued for older Boeing 747s in November.
While investigators still do not know what caused the TWA Boeing 747 to explode off New York in July 1996, killing all 230 aboard, they are concerned that sparks could get into a plane's center fuel tank via damaged wires or electrical jolts that jump from power lines to nearby low-wattage fuel gauge wires.
Aloha Airlines, which has a fleet of 17 Boeing 737s, said that once an airworthiness directive is issued the airline will comply with it, "as always," said Stephanie Ackerman, an Aloha spokeswoman.
