A380 OQA mostly repaired - Back in air by end of April?

[nlagalle]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

It becomes very clear to me who is the one with the simplistic thinking here but I'll leave it at that.

I think the analysis of "The Rok" further up on this page is pretty much accurate. It's about money and nothing else. Ergo: Money first, not safety. That's all I'm saying.

Berlin, I've asked you if you understand how AD's work, because I don't think you do. I know as I am involved in aviation. It isn't simplistic on how they work, but your view is. If every AD released had to be enacted on straight away, you would hardly have a plane flying as they'd be grounded waiting for work to occur. Depending on what the AD contains will determine when such corrective work should happen.

In the case of the Wing spars, it has been determined that they be checked and replaced (if required).

If we took your view on it, we'd be paying a fortune to fly anywhere and most of the planes would be on the ground.

Here is a example of an AD released for A330/A340

ADs for Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes

It has guidelines on when a cracked part should be replaced. so by your thinking they should ground all A330's until this AD is complied with?

 

[nlagalle]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

I think this is one of those situations where a company makes an informed decision based on a cost benefit analysis.

The cost of grounding the fleet to repair the cracks (including the costs of public perception of the aircraft post repair which may be unrepairable) is far more than the cost of leaving them in the air and potentially having an accident based on the risk that the airlines and Airbus have identified.

The AD also has to meet the guidelines of the Aviation Authority too. In this case the EASA has also agreed that the AD does not require immediate action, rather it needs to be completed

Actually berlin was saying the should ground the A380's and do the required work.. what about this AD:

http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/lib91206/2011-0206.pdf

Should the fleet be grounded for that too?

 

[straitman]

OT but I'm on OQJ so that's relatively new which brings a whole new round of considerations which could be worse.

 

[The Rok]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

The AD also has to meet the guidelines of the Aviation Authority too. In this case the EASA has also agreed that the AD does not require immediate action, rather it needs to be completed

Actually berlin was saying the should ground the A380's and do the required work.. what about this AD:

http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/lib91206/2011-0206.pdf

Should the fleet be grounded for that too?

I never suggested the fleet sould be grounded.


I suggested that there was a decision made that the fault was not sufficient to ground the fleet, a decision made by Airbus and the Airlines (And as you rightly said in consultation with the relevant authorities). The people in the know think there is not sufficient risk to ground the fleet.

I dont believe they should ground the fleet. I think if they did it could be the death of the A380.

 

[simcat]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

It becomes very clear to me who is the one with the simplistic thinking here but I'll leave it at that.

I think the analysis of "The Rok" further up on this page is pretty much accurate. It's about money and nothing else. Ergo: Money first, not safety. That's all I'm saying.

Of course it is about money, what business can afford not to manage costs? But that said it is also about risk levels which, as has been said, is presumably determined via sound engineering practice (I say presumably because I am not an Airbus employee and don't know the technical details of this matter). There are some risks that just must never be taken and that is ground the fleet type stuff, but most defects are minor, will have no substantial impact on the function of the surrounding structure or on the overall platform so why not wait until the next servicing.

Money and safety go hand in hand but there has to be a level of pragmatism, when was the last vehicle recall that included 'STOP DRIVING YOUR CAR NOW! Do not drive your car until you've had XYZ part replaced!' I can't recall one, although the Toyota brake issue a couple of years ago might have come close, even then though you still drove your car to get it fixed.

As nlagalle said, if airlines stopped flying aircraft everytime an AD was issued we would all be incredibly annoyed when our flight is unexpectedly delayed or cancelled on a VERY regular basis.

 

[Simo]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

If they have to take them out of service that is fine but I would like them back in Service by end of Feb as I am doing some A380 flights.

 

[elbarto]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

OT but I'm on OQJ so that's relatively new which brings a whole new round of considerations which could be worse.

I believe later builds, like OQJ, use carbon fiber wing ribs.

 

[jb747]

Re: New A380 issues - cracks found in Nancy Bird walton's wing ribs

The only two strange things about that crash were:

- why the co-pilot had the stick pulled back and held back all the way from 38,000 feet to the ocean despite the stall warning repeatedly sounding and the pitch indicators showing a nose up attitude

What is a pitch indicator?

The stall warning did not sound all the way to the bottom. It did for a while, and then it stopped. Later, it started, and then stopped, again. I'm sure that confused the issue.

Basically, as the airspeeds became unreliable, they were all in turn rejected by the PRIM/SECs (flight control computers). Later, as the alpha rose, the angle of attack data was also rejected, and so, the stall warning stopped.

What you see here is what we fear will be the end result of accountancy driven cadet programs. People who basically can't fly (or can only do so in prescribed conditions) becoming the norm in coughpits. Nothing that happened to this aircraft was outside the realm of normal pilot control...it should have been a non event.

- why the captain (once he was awakened) didn't act to take command of the coughpit and flight controls

I very much doubt that he was in a position to do so. Getting to the coughpit is one thing. Getting into the seat, and then getting it into a position from which you can fly, is something else entirely. Think about the Aeroflot A310. A captain's son departed the aircraft, but there was another captain in the other seat...but he did not have the seat in a position from which he could get control of the aircraft.

 

[markis10]

A380 OQA mostly repaired

Qantas Source are reporting she is out of the hanger and close to being flown again!

 

[simongr]

Great news for QF and Airbus! One more big bird back in the fleet

 

[Nigelinoz]

I've been told by a friend in the industry that they are hoping to have her back in the air by mid March,it certainly will be great to have
Nancy flying again.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[maninblack]

Great news for QF and Airbus! One more big bird back in the fleet

16 months in the hangar but QF reputation intact. I was told by a QF staff member that she will first be heading back to Toulouse for various tests before re-entering service. Still have to praise that flight crew.

 

[kristophe]

I'm looking forward to my next long haul flight. definitely gotta give one of these big birds a try.

 

[Simo]

16 months so far in repair,

I wonder how long the testing will take.

 

[Sprucegoose]

And will I have any hesitation boarding Nancy Bird. ?

Not on your life!

 

[UP4014]

And will I have any hesitation boarding Nancy Bird. ?

Not on your life!

It will be one of the most inspected aircraft in service by the time it is back in regular service.

Matt

 

[Simo]

And will I have any hesitation boarding Nancy Bird. ?

Not on your life!

IMHO the plane would be the safest A380 on the planet because it will have more inspections than any other A380.

RR will have service staff on it's first few hundred flights.

 

[AVC]

I want to know how much the repair bill was!

 

[Flying Fox]

IMHO the plane would be the safest A380 on the planet because it will have more inspections than any other A380.

RR will have service staff on it's first few hundred flights.

Would be cool to sit next to one of the RR guys with real-time telemetry on their screen.

Will RR staff have the ability to go outside during the flight and service the engine if anything is a bit wonky?

 

[Ansett]

Nancy back in the air by End of April

Qantas Airbus A380 back in skies in April

Will be good to see the number one back in the air but will you fly her?