Japan Air System continues inspections of MD 81 and MD 87's

Japan Air System (JAS), a member of the JAL Group, is continuing with inspections of Pratt and Whitney JT8D-217 series engines in the airline's domestic fleet of MD81 and MD87 aircraft following the detection of damage to stator vanes in the high-pressure compressors of this engine type.

The inspections started on January 19 and the JAS MD81/87 fleet is being grounded until cleared by inspection. As a result on January 19 the airline cancelled 120 domestic flights.

As of 11:00 hours today (January 20), JAS had inspected 15 of the 25 aircraft in the fleet. Of the 15, 12 were found to have signs of damage in one or both engines.

JAS has returned to service three aircraft that passed inspection and a fourth that has been equipped with a replacement engine. Today JAS will operate 53 flights on regional routes in Japan out of the 148 MD81/87 flights normally operated. The airline will cancel 95 flights, affecting about 4,900 passengers.

Inspection of the remaining 10 aircraft is continuing and 11 aircraft remain grounded pending the installation of replacement engines.