A380 wing cracks

[p--and--t]

Apparently 6 of these A380 belong to Qantas

Airbus A380 Wing Checks Ordered After Cracks Found

simpleflying.com

 

[kelvedon]

The European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered an inspection of the outer wing section of the 25 oldest A380s in operation. Qantas will inspect the wings following concerns of cracks found on the oldest A380's

Qantas A380s to be inspected for wing cracks

 

[BruceD1beach]

The European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered an inspection of the outer wing section of the 25 oldest A380s in operation. Qantas will inspect the wings following concerns of cracks found on the oldest A380's

Qantas A380s to be inspected for wing cracks

Hi, Years ago I watched a documentary on testing of the A380. It was supposed to show how hi-tech it was. Instead the engineers kept being embarrassed by it's failings. Film crews followed it around in real-time. In one test it ran along a runway into a foot deep pool of water to simulate landing onto a runway soaked in rain. The force of the water demolished the braking system's exposed pipes - the engineers were really embarrassed. I understand that Singapore Airlines can't sell their first 2 A380s. I just wonder if this will be the fate of all A380's?

 

[moa999]

Was reported on airliners that QF has 6 of the first 25. 2/2 have already passed the test.

 

[oz_mark]

Hi, Years ago I watched a documentary on testing of the A380. It was supposed to show how hi-tech it was. Instead the engineers kept being embarrassed by it's failings. Film crews followed it around in real-time. In one test it ran along a runway into a foot deep pool of water to simulate landing onto a runway soaked in rain. The force of the water demolished the braking system's exposed pipes - the engineers were really embarrassed. I understand that Singapore Airlines can't sell their first 2 A380s. I just wonder if this will be the fate of all A380's?

and that's why you test things. To find the problems....

 

[jb747]

A foot of water? I’d be surprised it it didn’t rip the landing gear off.

 

[BruceD1beach]

It was 15 years ago that I saw this documentary. I found one image of the pool of water - apparently it was a simulated takeoff through water - maybe it is only a few inches deep and maybe I remembered the size of the rubber wall around it? The second image is of the A380 racing through the water. The third image is of one of the engineers inside the A380 realizing that the brake hydraulics had all been torn off by the water. So I'm happy to concede both points 1) it wasn't a foot of water and 2) that's why they do tests - the brake hydraulics needed to be protected. Memory is never perfect is it. When I saw footage of the assault on ex-president Reagan, - it wasn't how I remembered it and I was amazed at how different the event actually was.

 

[TomVexille]

... I understand that Singapore Airlines can't sell their first 2 A380s. I just wonder if this will be the fate of all A380's?

I believe that all of their A380s are leased, so at the end of that lease they get handed back to the leasing company who are now stuck with an airframe that has almost no secondary market

 

[jb747]

The Singair A380s have a greater value as spares...so there was never much doubt that they'd be parted out. The A380 was always going to have a rocky secondary market...no surprises there.

These cracks are not new news. There was discussion about them well before I retired. They will be taken care of in the major maintenance cycle. Wing cracking occurs in just about everything eventually. I recall QF doing a very complex fix on a cracked wing box on one of the SPs. Even my beloved A-4 had issues with it.

 

[justinbrett]

BA have said they’d like to buy second hand A380s. If they sell them for 50% of list price, they suddenly become rather attractive to operate.

 

[Himeno]

The wing crack issue was found during the VH-OQA QF32 repair. Airbus expected them to happen and had planned repair procedures in place, they just happened earlier then expected. They shorted the time allowed between checks as a result. This is just EASA reminding airlines about that shortened check cycle period.

 

[bluesky300]

More interestingly, has anyone else been affected by the frequent 6-12 hour mechanical delays on QF1 & 2 lately?

 

[jb747]

BA have said they’d like to buy second hand A380s. If they sell them for 50% of list price, they suddenly become rather attractive to operate.

Not all are equal. The very early ones (Singair) have wiring harnesses that had to be modified, and common sense suggests keeping away from those.