Inspections Sought for Older 737 Jets

The government said it plans to require inspections and repairs on the forward pressure bulkheads in older Boeing 737s, saying they might crack and trigger the rapid depressurization of an aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice of a proposed rule requiring that Boeing 737-100 through -500 series aircraft with more than 60,000 takeoffs and landings be inspected within the next 1,500 flight cycles. The FAA said the changes were prompted by reports of structural fatigue cracks in some bulkheads. The barriers allow the planes to pressurize to a safe breathing atmosphere. Left untended, cracks could widen and trigger a rapid depressurization of a plane.