Financial News
- 10 February 2012, 0:13
Airbus A380 Fleet To Be Checked For Cracks
All Airbus A380 superjumbos will be checked for cracks in their wings after the airline Qantas discovered dozens of tiny fractures during a maintenance inspection.
The Australian carrier revealed workers on one of its A380s found 36 small fissures in the "wing rib feet", the metal brackets that connect the wing's ribs to its skin.
The airline temporarily grounded the affected jet only, as the fractures posed no threat to safety.
The jet had hit severe turbulence on a flight from London to Singapore last month.
Qantas said the cracks were not related to the turbulence, but had been linked to an Airbus manufacturing issue.
Now, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has called for checks on the entire fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbo jets.
Last month Europe's air safety authority ordered safety checks be carried out on a number of A380 planes after cracks were found inside the British-made wings.
The 68 planes will not be grounded, but "a detailed visual inspection" of all the superjumbos' wing rib feet will be carried out.
EASA spokesman Dominique Fouda the authority was "working with Airbus on a long-term fix that should be ready by the summer".
Cracks have previously been found in the wings of Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Air France planes.
Qantas said it was working to repair the cracks in its A380 and it expected the aircraft to be back in the air within a week.
what do you think?
gengisken1227
I think BAE make the wings for Airbus
David Wragg
No, BAE sold the factories that make the wings.
Roger Rushkin
The wings, landing gear and fuel systems of the A380 are made at plants in Broughton, near Chester, and Filton in Bristol.
pfmartin
BAE, have nothing to do with Airbus, they parted company a long time ago.
gengisken1227
Thanks for the correction guys
Gwyn Jones
This Aircraft was jinxed from the word go. Boeing did their own calculations on the A380 and came to the conclusion that there would be structural problems due to its sheer magnitude. WOULD YOU FLY IN THIS AIRCRAFT AND RISK YOUR LIFE AS IT IS INEVITABLE THAT ONE WILL DROP OUT OF THE SKY SOME DAY ????????
pfmartin
Boeing would say that wouldn't they. Do you think Airbus just stick wings together without a care in the world. This problem is one that was born of a manufacturing error, which is not critical and will be fixed. It happems in aircraft all the time. Boeing have no room to talk.
jjg118
yes one will crash. planes crash all the time. that doesnt mean the one im on will crash. n doesnt mean they will all crash
gengisken1227
Well I read elsewhere Boeing are having problems with their new composite construction Dreamliner.
David Wragg
This is not the world's largest aircraft but it is the largest passenger-airliner and as such is slightly faster, and flies more frequently, than the cargo and military transports that are slightly larger. This means more stress.
j.r.haynes
EXCELLENT!! i'VE JUST BOOKED FLIGHTS TO SOUTH AFRICA ON ONE OF THESE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE 'CRACKS' ARE SUFFICIENTLY FILLED BEFORE MAY. I ALSO HOPE GWYN THAT I'M NOT ON THE ONE 'THAT INEVITABLY FALLS FROM THE SKY' BECAUSE THE DESIGN CONCEPT IS JINXED.
Gavin Nellis
Ask if you can take your own parachute with you!!
Russell Beaumont
Dont worry mate apparently Qantas have just purchased a couple of tons of Pollyfilla.
Bryan Stocker
I heard about this long before Christmas. From what I understand its not a safety issue. The cracks are in a non-loadbearing/ non structural part of the wing and are due to a manufacturing fault, which Airbus are rectifying. Typically the media are sensationalising things again!
Gavin Nellis
The cracks are in the wings!!!!!!!! i know i wouldnt fly on a massive airliner knowing it had cracks in the wing regardless of it being non structural or not
Name witheld
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jjg118
a bit of black nasty right. it has a dark side. a light side n binds the universe together!
j.r.haynes
CHEERS TO IAN AND BRYAN, I CAN SLEEP EASY NOW!!
Bryan Stocker
Just to respond on your earlier comment, the design concept isn't jinxed, its a manufacturing error at the factory. I've been to South Africa several times on those 380's and would be quite happy to go again on one tomorrow. Anyway enjoy your trip fantastic place to visit!
Gavin Nellis
To be fair if the wings are made by the numpties in Bristol im not suprised its cracking,have you seen the people in Bristol lately,whenever i go past the factory the front gate is full of people smoking instead of inside working
pfmartin
The wings are made in Broughton. Not Bristol . You don't have to be a smoker to be a numpty. Very judgemental, aren't we. ??
Bryan Stocker
Look you lot, if your car windscreen developed a crack you wouldn't stop driving it, you'd just fix it as and when because its not structual or a real safety issue. However if say a suspension component or a brake disc cracked you wouldn't even take it off the drive. See the comparison?
Dan Brown
a windscreen forms part of the structural strength of the car you numbty. its illegal to drive with a cracked windscreen so no i wouldn't drive it!!!!!
gypsy56
Ah - but these are just the cracks you can see!
Mike Drouin
cracks in wings not good ,i guess some nuptie on computer with no real life skills "designed" everything.
Mikel roi
Yup, it's true - airliners and other planes have very "bumpy" landings or just fall out the sky or bang in to each other in mid flight - all the time (I've been on a couple that bunny hopped down the runway!). In fact they do it more frequently than we are told! They also drop bits and even chunks of ice that could kill you if they hit you. (Something for me to contemplate next time I'm laid back in the garden looking up at 24 different vapour trails and lower over-flying aircraft! Here's some proof - have a look at these pictures: <a href="http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=7331" rel='nofollow'>http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=7331</a> and <a href="http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=8024" rel='nofollow'>http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=8024</a> Just to get you started - but there are loads more on line! (I was going to say go by boat instead ... but after a gert big ship ran aground and fell over recently - maybe it's better to stay at home!)
Mark Cherry
Comet comes to mind when reading this
hamish kay
well one engineer i know said that when one of these birds fall out of the sky airbus will be finished. indusrial espionage springs to mind now. remember toyota recall they blamed that on americans so ford could prosper. i expect boeing might be tempted to get one of these to fall out of the sky so it can be global civilian brand. truely stupid. the plane is too big for materials used. think back to concorde and boeing with their supersonic liner. for materials used the stresses are too great. most current materials can't handle the size and stresses long term, it is mainly composite make up the a380's, and that cracks easily with right frequency and movement.
keith
10:26am on 8/2/2012
I was told this 5 days ago by a friend who works in the airline business. It will be a big problem.
pfmartin
5:27pm on 8/2/2012
Who told him ?Does he work in a cafe in an airport. Or is he an engineer at Broughton. Clarify, how he knew this before the rest of the planet. There is always a stress fracture on an aircraft. Whether it is dangerous or managable, is the question. The 380 will get hammered by the press , as usual , it's what the British press does. Instead of picking up on Boeings problems , it tries to destroy our own industry.
Russell Beaumont
10:35am on 9/2/2012
Yeah I've been told the ground crew dont like working under the wings during maintenance