Jetstar has been flying its long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliners on domestic routes while international flying remains subdued.Credit:
Collins said new-generation aircraft such as the 787 and Airbus’ A350 were made with lightweight composite materials which made them more susceptible to lightning damage than purely aluminum jets. Jet makers install a fine mesh or foil under the outer skin of their composite aircraft to create a conductive path.
Boeing removed a feature of the 787’s lightning protection - a copper foil around the wing fuel tanks - in March 2019 despite initialobjections from the US Federal Aviation Administration,which became another scandal for the manufacturer as it faced intense scrutiny over the safety of its 737MAX jets.
However,Jetstar’s Dreamliners are all at least six years old and the airline confirmed that all 11 in its fleet have the copper foil installed,as well as fuel tank fastener insulating caps which Boeing reportedly stopped installing at some point in 2014.
Jetstar usually flies its 787s to destinations in Asia and the Pacific but has been operating them in its domestic network while international demand remains subdued amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said lightning strikes were not unusual and triggered a maintenance review and repairs if required. “We are liaising with Jetstar about repairs on its Boeing 787 and its strategy for returning it to service,” the spokesman said.
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