asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the number of Boeing 737 jets operated by Irish airlines; and whether he has ordered emergency checks to be carried out thereon, following the Aloha airlines explosion of 28 April 1988 and the subsequent action taken by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.
Written Answers. - Boeing 737 Jets.
75.
Aer Lingus are the only Irish airline operating this type of aircraft.
I understand that the aircraft which was involved in the recent accident in Hawaii had made approximately 90,000 flights. The greatest number of flights undertaken to date by any Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Aer Lingus is of the order of 46,000. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have now issued a directive requiring checks on pressurisation to be carried out when any Boeing model 737-100 or 737-200 has accumulated more than 30,000 landings and that a visual inspection of the aircraft be undertaken as well. Aer Lingus are complying with this directive.