moose135
2007-03-06, 05:25 PM
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzje ... -headlines (http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzjet0307,0,5862301.story?coll=ny-top-headlines)
JetBlue will briefly sideline new jets for software fix
BY JAMES BERNSTEIN
[email protected]
March 6, 2007, 3:05 PM EST
JetBlue Airways Corp., still smarting from its poor performance at Kennedy Airport after a Valentine's Day ice and snow storm, said Tuesday it will begin briefly sidelining its new 100-seat Embraer jets to fix software problems.
Todd Burke, a spokesman for Forest Hills-based JetBlue, said that the software problems do not interfere with the safe operations of the Brazilian-built E-190s, short-to-medium haul passenger jets.
JetBlue has 25 E-190s and others on order.
Burke said that the software fixes will be made beginning this week and continue into April.
No flight cancellations or delays are anticipated, Burke said.
The software problems will be fixed at a JetBlue maintenance facility in Nashville when each E-190 comes is in for routine maintenance work anyway.
JetBlue has contracted with ExpressJet Holdings Inc. for four 50-seat aircraft to replace the E-190s as they are fixed two at a time, Burke said. "We have seen a pattern of software issues with the plane and we're taking proactive steps" to deal with the matter, Burke said. "We're trying to get ahead of this."
Burke stressed that the planes are not going out of service, but each will be worked on at Nashville for 24 to 48 hours and then resume flying. Burke declined to discuss the nature of the software problems, but Bloomberg news reported that the difficulties involve some incorrect instrument readings.
JetBlue had ordered 100 Embraer aircraft to compliment its fleet of 99 Airbus planes. Burke said that future deliveries of Embraers will come with the software modifications.
After the Valentine's Day snow and ice storm, JetBlue canceled 1,102 flights, stranding thousands at Kennedy, some on grounded planes for as long as 10 hours. The airline repeatedly apologized for the episode and has offered vouchers to affected passengers.
It has also adopted a Customer Bill of Rights to help make sure nothing like the Valentine's Day meltdown ever occurs again.
JetBlue will briefly sideline new jets for software fix
BY JAMES BERNSTEIN
[email protected]
March 6, 2007, 3:05 PM EST
JetBlue Airways Corp., still smarting from its poor performance at Kennedy Airport after a Valentine's Day ice and snow storm, said Tuesday it will begin briefly sidelining its new 100-seat Embraer jets to fix software problems.
Todd Burke, a spokesman for Forest Hills-based JetBlue, said that the software problems do not interfere with the safe operations of the Brazilian-built E-190s, short-to-medium haul passenger jets.
JetBlue has 25 E-190s and others on order.
Burke said that the software fixes will be made beginning this week and continue into April.
No flight cancellations or delays are anticipated, Burke said.
The software problems will be fixed at a JetBlue maintenance facility in Nashville when each E-190 comes is in for routine maintenance work anyway.
JetBlue has contracted with ExpressJet Holdings Inc. for four 50-seat aircraft to replace the E-190s as they are fixed two at a time, Burke said. "We have seen a pattern of software issues with the plane and we're taking proactive steps" to deal with the matter, Burke said. "We're trying to get ahead of this."
Burke stressed that the planes are not going out of service, but each will be worked on at Nashville for 24 to 48 hours and then resume flying. Burke declined to discuss the nature of the software problems, but Bloomberg news reported that the difficulties involve some incorrect instrument readings.
JetBlue had ordered 100 Embraer aircraft to compliment its fleet of 99 Airbus planes. Burke said that future deliveries of Embraers will come with the software modifications.
After the Valentine's Day snow and ice storm, JetBlue canceled 1,102 flights, stranding thousands at Kennedy, some on grounded planes for as long as 10 hours. The airline repeatedly apologized for the episode and has offered vouchers to affected passengers.
It has also adopted a Customer Bill of Rights to help make sure nothing like the Valentine's Day meltdown ever occurs again.