A380 Galley Refrigeration Fault

[jb747]

Thanks Mattg obviously this looks as though it’s a fleet issue. I would like to know the details of the faulty units and the parts needed. With my background I might be able to help.

They aren't simple refridgerators, and I very much doubt that you have access to any of the parts required. It is an integrated system that not only chills food, but which is also involved in providing cooling to electronics throughout the aircraft. I haven't got a manual available at the moment, but from memory there are two coolant loops that service the entire aircraft.

The A380 “Chills Out” With A New Supplementary Cooling System

Malaysia Airlines is the first operator to receive an A380 equipped with a new-generation supplementary cooling system, which keeps certai...

rickycarter93.blogspot.com

 

[RooFlyer]

Off topic, but I found out the other month that none of the 737s has refrigerated onboard catering.

It means that for double catered flights, as many of the QFi 737 flights are, only the outboard flight will have food that needs to be refrigerated.

So eg a salad based main might be available on the outbound flight but it won’t be available on the inbound flight.

And things like wine & soft drinks?

 

[lovestotravel]

Why not do away with catering all together....seems to be more of an inconvenience to QF

They are almost there, it can't get much worse

 

[Austman]

And things like wine & soft drinks?

Apparently there are other ways to do that. Eg with ice. Things like ice cream can be deeply frozen etc.

It seems it’s quite common for 737s not to have refrigerated food capability. They are good for a few hours after the catering has been loaded but not for longer trips?

 

[milehighclub]

While needs to be fixed of course, sounds like an ‘Airbus design’ fault if recurring. Part supply defect or part design, now production of the aircraft has ceased just throw up the hands and point elsewhere.

This pretty much sums up what has happened.

QF have been working hard to come up with a solution and have been trialing a few ways to keep the 2nd meal service cold for such long flights.

 

[jpp42]

Many years ago I was on a transatlantic flight that used dry ice to keep some things cool in the galley. I don't recall what equipment type but it was likely a 757 or 767. No idea if this was normal for that airline at the time (US Airways, later bought by AA), or a contingency due to equipment fault. Does anyone know if dry ice is certified for aviation use these days? There are some handling and training requirements.

 

[Quickstatus]

Google says dry ice have-are being used for galley chilling

 

[milehighclub]

Does anyone know if dry ice is certified for aviation use these days?

Sure is and passengers are also allowed up to 2.5kg themselves if transporting something that needs to be kept cold.

 

[Flying Fox]

Slightly different but BA had a catering problem and served KFC to everyone -

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/british-airways-serves-kfc-after-alleged-catering-blunder/news-story/8e6262c9cd940aa3254f9fe983b311b7

Good on the crew for thinking what they could best do given the situation.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Slightly different but BA had a catering problem and served KFC to everyone -

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/british-airways-serves-kfc-after-alleged-catering-blunder/news-story/8e6262c9cd940aa3254f9fe983b311b7

Good on the crew for thinking what what they could best do given the situation.

Could be a better choice than some airline food!

 

[Miksmith]

They aren't simple refridgerators, and I very much doubt that you have access to any of the parts required. It is an integrated system that not only chills food, but which is also involved in providing cooling to electronics throughout the aircraft. I haven't got a manual available at the moment, but from memory there are two coolant loops that service the entire aircraft.

The A380 “Chills Out” With A New Supplementary Cooling System

Malaysia Airlines is the first operator to receive an A380 equipped with a new-generation supplementary cooling system, which keeps certai...

rickycarter93.blogspot.com

Please get a manual and let me know.

 

[Franky]

Could be a better choice than some airline food!

Agree - but you should gave seen the scathing whinges online. It was an 8 hour flight after all, no-one was going to starve...

 

[jb747]

Please get a manual and let me know.

Let you know what? They are aircraft parts. If you were able to provide or service them, you’d already know.

 

[#flying]

They aren't simple refridgerators, and I very much doubt that you have access to any of the parts required. It is an integrated system that not only chills food, but which is also involved in providing cooling to electronics throughout the aircraft. I haven't got a manual available at the moment, but from memory there are two coolant loops that service the entire aircraft.

The A380 “Chills Out” With A New Supplementary Cooling System

Malaysia Airlines is the first operator to receive an A380 equipped with a new-generation supplementary cooling system, which keeps certai...

rickycarter93.blogspot.com

Do we know that QF 380s have been retrofitted with this system? The article states that the new cooling system is being fitted on all new production A380s, presumably around the time the article was written in late 2012. So QF 380s wouldn’t have had it at the time of delivery.

Someone above also suggested that it’s an ‘Airbus problem’, whereas the system mentioned in the article is manufactured by Liebherr.

 

[Quickstatus]

Airbus problem’, whereas the system mentioned in the article is manufactured by Liebherr.

Still Airbus problem and also Liebherr. Aircraft manufacturers often subcontract systems to other specialist providers

 

[blandfordryan]

Just got this for tonights QF12 ( I assume with VH-OQB)

 

[eastwest101]

Still Airbus problem and also Liebherr. Aircraft manufacturers often subcontract systems to other specialist providers

The way I read it was that the original system designed by Airbus (or a subcontractor) was the original equipment delivered on A380s and much like air-conditioning on Italian and French cars was insufficient for the job in the real world, but then an improved system was designed by Liebherr and retrofitted to Malaysian A380s and possibly other existing A380 customers, I am suspecting that maybe Qantas probably "cheaped out" and didn't take the offer of retrofitting to Liebherr because of cost and time to do the retrofit.

This decision is now coming home to roost, as the original equipment fails, and the original parts become more difficult/expensive to find. Being parked out in the desert for a while without being run might also be a partial explanation, I am suspecting that refrigeration systems may not like sitting idle for extended periods?

I'm wondering if this is a localized aircraft specific issue or if its going to become a fleet wide issue eventually.

 

[Quickstatus]

Aircons and refrigeration systems always seem to have a mind of its own. Almost a "dark art".
At my place there are always cold/hot spots that the aircon people can never work out. One room is always the coldest in winter even though it's probably got the best window seals. Everything else re roof insulation same.

Liebherr apparently got a very good name. Their fridges sell at a premium. But not sure if that means anything.

I wonder what the EK fleet uses given that it is the largest A380 fleet.

 

[Skiski]

Still Airbus problem and also Liebherr. Aircraft manufacturers often subcontract systems to other specialist providers

Not only Airbus our 787 ex LAX was delayed overnight due refrigeration problem

 

[kangarooflyer88]

For those who have flown QF recently I think a $20 food voucher to spent at an airport restaurant would greatly exceed the catering quality one would find on their flights!

-RooFlyer88