South Korea initiates special inspection of P-8A Poseidon and E-7 Peace Eye aircrafts following Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash
South Korea initiates inspections on P-8A Poseidon and E-7 AEW&C aircraft after Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash.
Following the tragic accident of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 on December 29 at Muan International Airport, the Ministry of Defense of South Korea decided to initiate a special inspection of its fleet of P-8A Poseidon and E-7 AEW&C aircrafts. These aircrafts are militarized special mission versions, based on the same aircraft model.
According to the news site Chosun Biz, a South Korean Ministry of Defense official reported during a regular press briefing on December 31 that, on the previous day (December 30), instructions had been issued to conduct a special safety inspection on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft in the armed forces as a preventive measure. The official added that this measure is being implemented across all branches of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The inspections are primarily focused on the landing gear, which has been identified as a potential cause of the accident.
The six P-8A Poseidon aircraft of the South Korean Navy are derivatives of the Boeing 737-800, sharing over 80% of their parts in common, optimizing the supply chain and generating significant savings. These aircraft are designed to carry out anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and reconnaissance and search and rescue operations at sea. The Poseidon is designed to operate for 25 years or 25,000 hours in the harshest environments, including extended missions in icy conditions.
Boeing delivered the first three units to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) on June 19, 2024, completing the full delivery in early July. The aircrafts are currently undergoing an operational evaluation process, which includes advanced training for pilots and technicians, as well as participation in live-fire maritime exercises to refine and adapt their capabilities before entering service in mid-2025. During this process, a Navy official indicated that no significant issues have been reported, including those related to the landing gear.
As part of the investigation into the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 tragedy, military authorities have deployed a contingent of approximately 160 personnel to Muan Airport to support search and reconnaissance operations in the area.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is also conducting inspections on its fleet of E-7 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircrafts, based on the Boeing 737NG platform (similar to the 737-700ER). The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea is currently implementing the Airborne Early Warning-II Program, aimed at enhancing the ROKAF's air surveillance capability. The Boeing E-7 is one of the leading candidates for the contract to acquire four new AEW&C aircrafts, making the results of the investigations into military platforms based on the 737NG crucial for future decisions.
Comentarios
Para comentar, debés estar registrado
Por favor, iniciá sesión