ELT Inspections
In the aftermath of a July 12 fire in a parked Boeing 787 at London Heathrow Airport, aircraft operators have been told to inspect emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) on all 787s.
In the days immediately following the fire, Boeing had developed instructions for operators to check for “proper wire routing and any signs of wire damage or pinching, as well as inspect the battery compartment for unusual signs of heating or moisture.”
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in an airworthiness directive (AD) aimed at U.S. operators of 787s, said in late July that fixed ELTs manufactured by Honeywell must be removed or inspected, according to Boeing’s instructions, and, if necessary, corrective action must be performed. The FAA said the AD should be considered an interim action and that additional orders may eventually be issued.
The FAA, unlike civil aviation authorities in some other countries, does not require ELTs to be installed in 787s…
