Superjumbo jets to have inspections for cracks
Source: Agencies |
January 21, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
EUROPE'S air safety authority told airlines yesterday to inspect nearly a third of the world's A380 superjumbo jets within about six weeks, after Airbus found new cracks in metal brackets inside the wings.
The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive that called for "a detailed visual inspection" of the aircraft's so-called "wing rib feet" - the metal brackets that connect the wing's ribs to its skin.
"This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the airplane," EASA said.
EASA said the order applies to 20 A380s. The agency gave airlines between four days and six weeks from next Tuesday to carry out the checks. The deadline depends how much flying time the giant planes have clocked up.
Aircraft that have racked up 1,800 or more takeoff and landing cycles will have to be checked within four days, or another 14 cycles. Planes that have flown more than 1,300 will need checking within six weeks, or 84 cycles.
Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said that, in the meantime, "continued safe operation of the fleet is guaranteed."
"Regarding production of future aircraft, modifications are under way," he said.
Sixty-eight of the double-decker, US$390 million jets that seat 525 people are flying with seven airlines.
Airbus said on Thursday that it had found new cracks on the brackets inside the wings of two superjumbos after inspections launched following the 2010 incident in which a Qantas A380's engine disintegrated in flight.
It said the cracks were found "on a limited number of non-critical brackets," on two of the nine aircraft inspected so far.
The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive that called for "a detailed visual inspection" of the aircraft's so-called "wing rib feet" - the metal brackets that connect the wing's ribs to its skin.
"This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the airplane," EASA said.
EASA said the order applies to 20 A380s. The agency gave airlines between four days and six weeks from next Tuesday to carry out the checks. The deadline depends how much flying time the giant planes have clocked up.
Aircraft that have racked up 1,800 or more takeoff and landing cycles will have to be checked within four days, or another 14 cycles. Planes that have flown more than 1,300 will need checking within six weeks, or 84 cycles.
Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said that, in the meantime, "continued safe operation of the fleet is guaranteed."
"Regarding production of future aircraft, modifications are under way," he said.
Sixty-eight of the double-decker, US$390 million jets that seat 525 people are flying with seven airlines.
Airbus said on Thursday that it had found new cracks on the brackets inside the wings of two superjumbos after inspections launched following the 2010 incident in which a Qantas A380's engine disintegrated in flight.
It said the cracks were found "on a limited number of non-critical brackets," on two of the nine aircraft inspected so far.
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