Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
(MoneyWatch) Despite Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday announcing a plan to jointly review the 787 Dreamliner's critical systems, U.S. federal regulators continue to express confidence in the aircraft.
Industry experts say it is common for new aircraft models to roll off the assembly line with some glitches. The 787, the world's first major airliner made primarily of carbon composites, is also widely acknowledged to be state of the art. Among other attributes, the jet's light weight lets it conserve fuel and counter turbulence more efficiently than a standard liner.
CBS News aviation and safety expert Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger said that this week's series of technical problems for the Dreamliner -- an electrical fire and a fuel leak in Boston, along with an oil leak in Japan -- amount to normal "growing pains" for new aircraft.
"If you look at the history of aviation, decades ago new airplanes had many more issues and they often led to fatal results," said Sullenberger. "Now we catch these problems much earlier."
Following is a brief tour through the Dreamliner's missteps.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
Dreamliner test flight ends in emergency landing
A Boeing Dreamliner ended a test flight in Laredo, Texas, in November 2010 by making an emergency landing. CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reported that smoke came from the 787's electrical instrument bay and that the jet lost some of its engine controls prior to its emergency landing.
No one was injured as a result of the incident.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
Qatar CEO refuses Dreamliner delivery over engine trouble
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in October 2012 that his airline would not accept any 787s until its motor had a new shaft. General Electric (GE), the world's largest jet-engine maker, built the Dreamliner's engine, the GEnx, and took responsibility for what Qatar's CEO considered a "material defect." Since GE altered the 787's engine, Qatar has received five Dreamliners.
The incident resulted in no bodily injury.
Qatar currently has orders for at least 30 more Dreamliners. Al Baker rallied behind Boeing this week, assuring reporters that his airline had no plan to cancel any 787 orders.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
787 makes emergency landing in New Orleans
A United Airlines Dreamliner in December 2012 landed in New Orleans unexpectedly due to a mechanical issue. The emergency landing occurred as the Federal Aviation Administration ordered urgent inspections of Dreamliners for possible defects in the airliners' fuel lines. One report assumed that one of the troubled plane's six electric generators had failed midflight, originally from Houston to Newark.
No one was injured as a result of the incident.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
Dreamliner in Boston catches fire
An electrical fire broke out on Jan. 7 aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a Japan Airlines passenger jet, and filled the cabin with smoke. Over the next 48 hours, Boeing shares fell more than 5 percent. The stock rebounded on Jan. 9 after the plane maker said in a statement that it had "extreme confidence" in its 787.
The electrical fire resulted in no bodily injury.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
Dreamliner in Boston leaks jet fuel
Japan Airlines delayed a flight from Boston to Tokyo on Jan. 8 after about 40 gallons of jet fuel leaked from one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Officials at Logan International Airport towed the jet, which had 178 passengers and 11 crew members on board, back to a gate, contained the leak and cleared it for take off.
No bodily injury occured as a result of the incident.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
All Nippon Airways cancels two Dreamliner flights
All Nippon Airways canceled the return flights of two of its 787s on Jan. 11 as a result of separate incidents. One Dreamliner that landed safely at Miyazaki airport in Japan reportedly had lost oil as a result of leak from an engine; a different 787, which also landed safely in Japan, had a crack in its windshield.
The incidents resulted in no bodily injury.
Boeing 787: New Dreamliner has growing pains
Pilot makes brilliant call, lands on Hudson River
Japan's ANA cancels flight due to 787 computer bug
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's bumpy ride
Boeing 787 makes emergency landing in Japan
All Nippon Airways grounded its 17 Dreamliners on Jan. 16 after one of them made an emergency landing, reportedly as a result of battery trouble. ANA said that a burning smell had been detected in the cockpit and cabin of the jet before it landed safely at Takamatsu airport in Japan. No one in the emergency suffered any bodily injury.
Later, the Federal Aviation Administration informed CBS News that it will include the incident in its ongoing review of the 787's critical systems. Shares of Boeing in trading on Jan. 16 fell as much as 3 percent.
Boeing 787: New Dreamliner has growing pains
Pilot makes brilliant call, lands on Hudson River
Japan's ANA cancels flight due to 787 computer bug