WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration plans to add the Boeing 747 to the list of planes that must have their cockpit windows either inspected or replaced because of the danger of an electrical fire.
The FAA issued a similar order for other Boeing planes in July. The problem is that the window heaters on some planes have had electrical arcing or even open flames. Boeing has acknowledged at least 29 incidents since 2002. Some of them led to forced landings.
The proposed order is set to be published on Friday. It would cover 251 U.S.-registered 747s. The FAA estimates that each inspection cycle would cost 747 operators $5.4 million.
