Are A380's safe enough to fly? [hairline cracks found in wings]

[Robmn]

I'll be furious if that happens to me again! This time I'm in F!

You would be more furious if you had booked business on Virgin domestic and only received PE like is happening at present.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-business-class-lottery-now-36235-13.html

r

 

[Mal]

You would be more furious if you had booked business on Virgin domestic and only received PE like is happening at present.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-business-class-lottery-now-36235-13.html

r

Really? I agree with the DJ "bashing" for not providing what they advertise (up to a point), but to bring this into a discussion regarding A380 F vs 744 F is just silly IMHO.

 

[Alanslegal]

My QF11 flight on 8/2 has been subbed to a 744. I'm disappointed!

I'd be a bit dissapointed to as I enjoy the A380's . What seat did you allocated on the 388, and what is your new seat selection?

 

[ozscot]

I'd be a bit dissapointed to as I enjoy the A380's . What seat did you allocated on the 388, and what is your new seat selection?

I was in 13E or F. It automatically changed to 11J which I changed to 13J as I prefer other than the front row upstairs.

 

[straitman]

You would be more furious if you had booked business on Virgin domestic and only received PE like is happening at present.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-business-class-lottery-now-36235-13.html

r

I very much doubt that you are correct with this comment :!:

In any case it is OT so let us return to the real topic.

 

[bat21]

The crack problem continues

Another big Q A380 with crack problems and this time it is acknowledged. I know every new model has teething problems but these are usually minor. Continuing issue of cracks to me is a major issue especially when the plane is taken out of service albeit probably for a short time only. I smile when they say the cracks are only minor and two centimeters long. How many times have people had a stone chip on a windscreen and within a few days, it develops into a crack the breadth of the whole screen and this is in a vehicle traveling at 110 kmh and in a temperature range of 5 to 38 degrees celsius not at 700kmh and at -40 degrees. I hope these so called experts know how minor these are and are not worrying about their profit margins. Perhaps the big Banks have taken over the Airline industry, they can get away with anything

Qantas grounds A380 after cracks found | Perth Now

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Qantas grounds A380 after cracks found

QANTAS has taken one of its jumbo jets out of action after hairline cracks were discovered in its wings.

The A380 plane has been grounded at the airline's Mascot jet base since Sunday after engineers discovered 36 hairline cracks in its wings during inspections, Fairfax reported today.

The airline said the cracks were not as serious as those discovered by the manufacturer, Airbus, last month that prompted European regulators to order urgent inspections of almost a third of the worldwide fleet within six weeks.

Qantas has found cracks in two double-deck A380s it has inspected so far.


Read more: Qantas grounds A380 after cracks found | News.com.au

 

[maninblack]

Re: Are A380's safe enough to fly?

Qantas grounds A380 after cracks found

Apparently the cracks are part of the design and as the aircraft ages engineers will have to apply moisturiser more often.

Section to be ammended. http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/your-health-inflight/global/en#jump0

 

[nlagalle]

Re: The crack problem continues

Another big Q A380 with crack problems and this time it is acknowledged. I know every new model has teething problems but these are usually minor. Continuing issue of cracks to me is a major issue especially when the plane is taken out of service albeit probably for a short time only. I smile when they say the cracks are only minor and two centimeters long. How many times have people had a stone chip on a windscreen and within a few days, it develops into a crack the breadth of the whole screen and this is in a vehicle traveling at 110 kmh and in a temperature range of 5 to 38 degrees celsius not at 700kmh and at -40 degrees. I hope these so called experts know how minor these are and are not worrying about their profit margins. Perhaps the big Banks have taken over the Airline industry, they can get away with anything

Qantas grounds A380 after cracks found | Perth Now

Umm, as many pointed out all new aircraft have issues, many you don't even hear about. If you saw all the AD's that come out for other aircraft you'd

And I don't get your comment about the 'so called experts' and the big banks? Had they taken over Qantas wouldnt have grounded that particular plane don't you think?

 

[Nigelinoz]

Had they taken over Qantas wouldnt have grounded that particular plane don't you think?

Yep,QF claims that international loses $200M a year,if they were not concerned with safety they could easily be tempted to
leave the plane in the air and hope the cracks didn't get worse.
Good on QF for being proactive I say.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yep,QF claims that international loses $200M a year,if they were not concerned with safety they could easily be tempted to
leave the plane in the air and hope the cracks didn't get worse.
Good on QF for being proactive I say.
Cheers
N'oz

Except I would have thought that either their insurance, or Airbus, would cover this - so cannot see how they are putting safety over profits.

 

[nlagalle]

Except I would have thought that either their insurance, or Airbus, would cover this - so cannot see how they are putting safety over profits.

Cover what? The inspection cost or the loss of the aircraft for x period of time? Maybe the former but probably not the latter.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Cover what? The inspection cost or the loss of the aircraft for x period of time? Maybe the former but probably not the latter.

both I would think. if you buy a brand new product which you can't use, and it's not 'normal wear and tear' then I would except any properly run company to either have that convered by insurance, or to sue for damages from the manufacturer if the manufacturer was not forthcoming. any cost of the grounding would be net of running the alternative with a 747.

I would be surprised if qantas was not being compensated for the a380 on the ground in Singapore.

 

[AVC]

I'm booked for the 380 coming back from LA in July.

I don't have any concerns for my safety.

One of the things to remember about the 380, which I don't think has been mentioned yet, is that the bird that had the engine failure, had an enourmous amount of damage to the wing and many of the systems, but made it back safe. That's a pretty good statement for it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm booked for the 380 coming back from LA in July.

I don't have any concerns for my safety.

One of the things to remember about the 380, which I don't think has been mentioned yet, is that the bird that had the engine failure, had an enourmous amount of damage to the wing and many of the systems, but made it back safe. That's a pretty good statement for it.

but that damage may well have been limited because the wing was not compromised. the question is, if you had the same type of incident, would the hairline cracks affect the integrity of the wing and it's ability to staynin some sort of shape?

 

[nlagalle]

both I would think. if you buy a brand new product which you can't use, and it's not 'normal wear and tear' then I would except any properly run company to either have that convered by insurance, or to sue for damages from the manufacturer if the manufacturer was not forthcoming. any cost of the grounding would be net of running the alternative with a 747.

I would be surprised if qantas was not being compensated for the a380 on the ground in Singapore.

OK point of difference between the two. The A380 in SIN can't fly yet and Qantas received a payout from RR. This A380 was grounded by choice to complete the inspection so there is a difference. Had Airbus ordered a grounding for inspection then it would be different.

 

[ozscot]

It's interesting that this is appearing as breaking news in the media with pictures of the aircraft in the hanger on the telly, yet QF11 I'm on today was subbed to a 744 last week. Presumably the aircraft in the hanger was the one originally scheduled to run QF11 and this is relatively (at least by a week) planned downtime?

That being the case I wonder if the media could have been better placated with advance notice of "scheduled" maintenance. Mind you an aircraft going tech getting on the morning news is crazy.

 

[serfty]

I believe Qantas' 388 schedules have been up the creek since mid January due to one being put out of service in London for nearly a week after being being struck by a ground vehicle.


I have some transpac flights in March booked on 388's and am watching these carefully.

 

[amaroo]

yet QF11 I'm on today was subbed to a 744 last week.

That hurts - I've been subbed twice in J and I felt like putting my hand out for having to sleep on a slope

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK point of difference between the two. The A380 in SIN can't fly yet and Qantas received a payout from RR. This A380 was grounded by choice to complete the inspection so there is a difference. Had Airbus ordered a grounding for inspection then it would be different.

Understand where you are coming from, but the difference between what you are talking about and what I am is that this is not normal wear and tear, and not part of the standard maintenance routine. They are only taking this step because of an apparent (design?) problem. I would therefore think it is subject to compensation.