Luxury jet makes Fairbanks landing for repair work
Published Thursday, September 25, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — A Boeing 777-300ER, the world’s largest long-range twin-jet commercial aircraft, cooled its heels at Fairbanks International Airport following an emergency landing two weeks ago.
An engine was replaced and the state-of-the-art jetliner, nicknamed the Triple Seven or T7, left for Toronto shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Changing out a $22 million, 10-and-a-half ton jet engine at a relatively small airport in the middle of Alaska with winter approaching was no small task, according to a work crew from Air Canada, which owns the plane.
The new engine had to be trucked across North America from Toronto, along with the tools to work on the jetliner. More than a dozen mechanics also traveled here and labored from sunup to sundown for a week.
Air Canada purchased the $270 million aircraft last year, and the company’s mechanics have had little cause to work on it, chief mechanic Jack Deonaraine said.
“With limited experience, I feel we did a great job,” Deonaraine said.
The incident began Sept. 10.
One of the jet engines began vibrating during a 17-hour flight to Seoul, Korea, from Toronto. While still over Alaska, the pilot decided to turn back and land in Fairbanks, Deonaraine said.
The landing went smoothly and none of the estimated 150 passengers, mostly Koreans, or the cargo (pallets of lobsters) was harmed.
The passengers and cargo were eventually flown back to Canada and caught a jetliner to Seoul the next day, Deonaraine said.
But the Triple Seven stayed put. A turbine was damaged. It’s still unclear why, Deonaraine said.
The airline needed another engine and pronto. That’s where Shenker Logistics stepped in.
Two truck drivers made the cross-country trip, carrying the extra-wide load to the sub-arctic in about five days.
One day, a herd of buffalo crossed a road in Canada, and the truckers had to wait almost three hours, according to Barry Sellars, who oversaw the engine transport. That’s about the time Sellars decided the truckers would only drive during daylight.
“It wouldn’t have looked good if we ran into a buffalo in the middle of the night,” he said.
Once the engine arrived in Fairbanks, the mechanics got to work.
“It was very labor intensive,” said Pete Janecki, another chief mechanic. “You’re working with a lot less tooling than than you would at home. The stands aren’t the same. It takes time.”
Janecki said it was the fourth time an engine of this kind required replacement but the first time doing the job for many of his workers.
The aircraft is impressive. It is roughly twice as large as a Boeing 737, the sort of jetliner Alaska Airlines typically flies and the most common jetliner in the world.
Boeing has sold more than 700 of them and another nearly 400 are on order, according to Boeing spokeswoman Carrie Thearle.
The jetliner is divided into two sections — business class and coach. Upstairs are sleeping berths for the pilots and crew.
Business-class passengers sit in their own pods, which are sort of like cubicles, with their own movie players and chairs that slide back like La-Z-Boy recliners.
Airfare can cost as much as $10,000, Deonaraine said.
The Fairbanks airport spokeswoman said the aircraft drew attention quickly. People wanted to know why it was here and whether Air Canada was planning to offer passenger flights to Fairbanks.
Deonaraine said the Air Canada workers stayed at the new Holiday Inn Express and once ventured out to the Turtle Club for dinner.
“We’re really grateful for the cooperation we got from the fire department, airport operations — everybody,” he said.
Community Discussion
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It is nice to see this story covered- but the coverage is way late.
Did it keep the public from knowing more about the plane by not reporting it earlier? Now they know...
You know this incident could have become very serious very fast. I think it's very plain that we need to start banning engines from airplanes to ensure the safety of our children.
Give it to the newsminer to report news from two weeks ago.
Wait!!! This happened TWO WEEKS AGO?
DNM are you digging for news?
Outtatowner- I agree! Just wait until they make those engines wear helmets to fly!
The American Airline industry is going bankrupt and Canada can afford to buy luxury jets for Oriental businessmen and cargo that is lobsters going to the Orient. Gives one real insight into what is happening to the world and US economy. Guess who the losers and winners are.
Who cares.
news?
well it is a break from the Palin circus.
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