Air New Zealand Begins Boeing Fuel Pump Inspection

Air New Zealand says it has already begun to inspect fuel tank pumps in its Boeing 747 fleet to comply with a new FAA directive expected to be issued on Thursday (New Zealand time).

The other models of Boeing aircraft in its fleet are not fitted with fuel pumps of the type which needs inspection.

The process takes approximately eight manhours per aircraft to complete and is not anticipated to disrupt services.

The FAA directive is expected to allow until October 9 (NZ time) for the inspection of four pumps on each of eight 747 aircraft and Air New Zealand plans to have the work finished by October 2. The pumps are removed and then X-rayed to check the integrity of the wiring. 

Air New Zealand is already in compliance with earlier service bulletins and FAA directives concerning fuel pumps. An inspection order issued on 30 August concerned a specific batch of pumps from the same manufacturer. This did not apply to Air New Zealand's Boeing jets.