Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Friday, March 19, 2010 9:34 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Ma's plane safe, China Airlines says

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Amidst China's order of safety checks on 450 Boeing aircraft due to potentially hazardous tail flaps, China Airlines announced yesterday that President Ma Ying-jeou's charter carrier, a Boeing 737-800 set to deliver the Taiwanese leader to the nation's South Pacific allies this Sunday, is safe for travel.

　According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Henry Chen, China Airlines also confirmed with MOFA that the charter plane was never considered a safety hazard as the production number on Ma's aircraft is not among those required for safety checks.

　However, to ensure the president's safety, the president's charter plane has been thoroughly inspected and was taken on more than one test flight. According to China Airlines, the aircraft passed all safety checks with flying colors.

　Chen Peng-yu, China Airlines' assistant publicity vice president, stressed that the Boeing Company listed 737s with production numbers from 2408 to 3000 as those with safety hazards; this officially excludes ten 737-800 models in the airlines' possession, including the chartered plane on which President Ma is set to fly for his first official trip to the South Pacific.

　Earlier this month, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued directives urging inspections on the tail flaps of six models of Boeing 737s. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) yesterday ordered 450 Boeing aircrafts for inspection, including models 737-600, 700, 700C, 800, 900 and 900ER.

　The president's charter plane, which will transport him to the Solomon Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu from March 21 to 27, is a small, 166-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Chen said the main reason the plane was not included for inspections is due to the different materials used in the connecting rod bearings.

　According to China Airlines, the alert bulletin issued by Boeing Company for detection and inspection targeted commercial planes which have either conducted over 2,000 flights or accrued over 4,000 flight hours. Such plans within the airlines possession will be checked for safety accordingly, the Taiwanese airline spokesperson added.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

Share

Print

Email



	In this March 11, 2004, file photo, a Shenzhen Airlines Boeing 737-700 is loaded with passenger baggage on the tarmac at Shenzhen International Airport. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) yesterday ordered 450 Boeing aircraft for inspection due to potentially hazardous tail flaps, including models 737-600, 700, 700C, 800, 900 and 900ER. (Bloomberg) Enlarge Photo


Sponsors
▪	Save 70% for hotel in Shanghai and 6000 hotels, in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and all China.
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!