Sure — a C-check for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is a part of the aircraft’s scheduled maintenance program, typically performed every 20–24 months or after a set number of flight hours/cycles, depending on the airline’s maintenance planning document (MPD) and regulatory authority (e.g., FAA or EASA).
Here’s an outline of a typical C-check inspection checklist for a Boeing 787-8:
C-Check Inspection Overview – Boeing 787-8
1. Airframe Inspection
- Fuselage: Structural inspection for cracks, dents, corrosion.
- Doors & Windows: Latches, seals, hinges, and pressure integrity.
- Wings & Empennage: Spars, ribs, skin panels.
- Landing Gear: Struts, actuators, tires, brakes, and uplock mechanisms.
2. Flight Control Systems
- Surfaces: Elevators, rudders, ailerons – hinges, linkages, and actuators.
- Fly-by-wire system checks: Software versioning, signal verification.
3. Engines and Nacelles (GEnx or Trent 1000)
- Engine mounts, fire detection systems, and pylon attachments.
- Fan blades and internal borescope inspection.
- Oil, hydraulic, and fuel leak inspection.
4. Electrical and Avionics Systems
- Check power distribution units (PDUs) and Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA).
- Verify communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.
- Battery inspection (especially lithium-ion on 787s).
5. Environmental Control System (ECS)
- Cabin air system, packs, bleed air systems.
- Humidity control and cabin pressure monitoring.
6. Fuel System
- Tanks, pumps, venting systems, and fuel quantity indication.
- Inspections for microbial growth and seal integrity.
7. Hydraulics
- Check for leakage, pressure stability, accumulator pre-charge.
- Inspect flight control actuators and hydraulic power transfer units (PTUs).
8. Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
- Operational check and borescope inspection.
- Check fire detection/suppression systems.
9. Cabin and Interior
- Inspection and functional check of seats, lavatories, oxygen systems.
- Smoke detectors, emergency lighting, and PA systems.
10. Software and Aircraft Health Monitoring
- Updates to flight control and system management software.
- Review health monitoring logs (e.g., Boeing Airplane Health Management system).
Documentation & Certification
- Logbook entries and sign-offs by certified maintenance engineers.
- Compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Service Bulletins (SBs).
- Update maintenance tracking systems (e.g., TRAX, AMOS, or Maintenix).
This is a generalized checklist — each airline customizes it based on their Approved Maintenance Program (AMP) and Boeing’s Maintenance Planning Data (MPD).
Absolutely. An A-check is a lighter and more frequent maintenance check compared to the C-check. It’s part of the routine maintenance schedule for commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 787-8, and helps ensure airworthiness between more intensive checks.
A-Check Overview – Boeing 787-8
Frequency
- Typically every 500–750 flight hours, or about 6–8 weeks, depending on the airline’s maintenance schedule and utilization.
- Takes around 6–24 hours to complete.
- Often done overnight at an airport maintenance base (line maintenance hangar).
Typical A-Check Task Categories
1. General Visual Inspections
- Fuselage & Wing Surfaces: Exterior panels for dents, cracks, fluid leaks, missing fasteners.
- Landing Gear & Tires: Wear, tire pressure, brake wear pins, hydraulic leaks.
- Cargo Doors & Passenger Doors: Latches, seals, and proper operation.
2. Systems & Component Checks
- Hydraulics: Reservoir levels, leaks, pressure checks.
- Electrical Systems: Battery condition, generator load checks.
- Avionics: Functional tests of nav, comm, and flight management systems.
3. Cabin & Emergency Equipment
- Oxygen Systems: Bottle pressure, masks, and deployment mechanisms.
- Fire Extinguishers & Emergency Lighting: Pressure, expiry, and functionality.
- Seats, Belts, Lavatories: General condition and secure fittings.
4. Engines & APU
- Fan Blade Visual Inspection: FOD (foreign object damage), nicks.
- Oil Level Checks: Top-off as needed.
- Filter Inspections: Bypass indicators and replacements if needed.
5. Software & Diagnostics
- Check for error messages from the Aircraft Condition Monitoring System (ACMS) or Airplane Health Monitoring (AHM).
- Update minor software packages if required (787s have extensive avionics software).
Typical Deliverables Post A-Check
- Signed maintenance log entries.
- Updates to the aircraft’s digital maintenance tracking system.
- Rectification of any deferred defects (MEL/CDL items).
Tools & Systems Involved
- Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) for recording tasks.
- Maintenance software like TRAX, AMOS, or Maintenix.
- Use of 787-specific GSE (Ground Support Equipment) and remote diagnostics tools.
Difference Between A-Check and C-Check