Boeing Asks FAA to Approve Paint Fix Plan for 787’s Wing Peeling

Worldwide operators of Boeing 787 Dreamliner jetliners have experienced paint peeling issues on wing and horizontal stabilizer surfaces due to ultraviolet radiation exposure, said Boeing. The planemaker asked the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve its plan to address the issue.

Boeing said that airlines operating 787s reported the issue and it has a plan to solve it. To address the peeling paint, the planemaker wants to add a layer of ultraviolet-blocking black topcoat between the primer and white topcoat. A temporary fix involving speed tape on affected areas was used until concerned passengers began to share photos of the affected areas.

"Even though the use of speed tape has no effect on the safety of the airplane, the public could perceive an unsafe condition when seeing tape on the wing surfaces," Boeing told the FAA in a regulatory filing made public on Monday.

Boeing said in its filing that the "petition will address a fleet significant maintenance issue that is creating a public perception of an unsafe condition as well as creating the potential for significant airplane downtime." In addition, the fix was needed in part because the "paint peeling issue requires the operators to repaint the wing and horizontal stabilizer at a much higher frequency."

Boeing is also seeking FAA’s approval on other design changes, including adding cap seals over the nuts of some 787 wing skin fasteners because certain combinations could lead to ignition sources in the fuel tank, reported Reuters. The FAA said it would carefully review the planemaker’s petition.

Airbus, Qatar Airways Battle in Court

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways filed a lawsuit against Airbus over the deteriorating surface of its A350. The issue started in January 2021, when an A350 was sent to Airbus in Toulouse with reports of cracks. “Qatar Airways was not the only airline experiencing problems, but it has been the airline that has pushed back the most,” reported SimpleFlying.

Currently, no Mexican airline operates Airbus’ A350 jets, with low-cost-carriers Viva Aerobus and Volaris operating A320s and A320neos. On the other hand, Aeroméxico currently operates eight Boeing 787-8 jetliners and 10 Boeing 787-9s, and is pending two more aircraft from the planemaker. The Mexican flagship airline has not made any public comments regarding the wing peeling issues.