Uzbekistan Airways comments on peeling paint on its plane’s wing

The company said in a statement that paint peeling on composite parts on Boeing B787 aircraft has been a problem for years. Currently, the Boeing concern has applied to the US Aviation Administration with a request to temporarily allow the use of special adhesive tape “speed tape” on the wing and moving parts of the wing of aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The wing and part of the fuselage of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft are made from composite materials.

Almost all operators of the above-mentioned type of aircraft, regardless of climatic operating conditions, encountered a similar problem: All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United airlines, American Airlines, Air New Zealand and others. To restore the peeling paint, Boeing plans to add an additional top coat that blocks ultraviolet radiation.

This problem is due to the fact that the Boeing 787-Dreamliner is a new generation aircraft created from materials that are relatively new to aviation - approximately 80% composites. Taking into account ultraviolet radiation, as well as the flexibility of the wing in flight, the applied layers of paint do not withstand and peel off in large fragments. According to the manufacturer's analysis, this detachment is a cosmetic defect and in no way affects the flight safety of the aircraft.

Based on the results of the negotiations, the manufacturing concern is ready to bear all the costs of repainting the surfaces of the aircraft and their flight to the contractor’s base. Taking into account the above, Uzbekistan Airways JSC has planned for the near future a phased repainting of three Boeing 787-Dreamliner aircraft.