QF32 388 - emergency landing in SIN after Engine failure

[NM]

Re: QF 32 A380 out of action - who is inconvenienced?

The early rumours mention the probable cause as electrical issues.

A bit like my HJ Kingswood that had an electrical problem ... the con rod came through the side of the block and damaged the alternator

 

[NM]

Re: QF 32 A380 out of action - who is inconvenienced?

What? A conrod knocked the generator off?

That comment is so silly and funny, that I just spat coffee all over the keyboard.

As happened to my Kingswood back in the 80's

 

[harvyk]

Re: QF 32 A380 out of action - who is inconvenienced?

That comment is so silly and funny, that I just spat coffee all over the keyboard.

You'd probably better stay away from nonews and their comments section then...

I still think the following comment takes the cake

Clancy of Sydney of Sydney Posted at 9:18 AM Today

I don't get it, why would anyone design a jet engine that is capable of exploding and or capable of expelling deadly shrapnel?? Even if the chances of it happening are very small i am truly astounded at the idiocy of this!

 

[jb747]

A thought occurred to me this morning - of note, the recent well known "incidents" on QF have all been long haul a/c and statistically I would wonder if that's now significant. Or are the long haul ones just receiving more publicity because of the size of the aircraft and the impact on QF service / ability to recover.

I can name
- 744 ex-SFO engine drama
- 744 ex-HKG headed to MNL after oxygen tank issues
- A330 over WA uncontrolled dive
on top of the 744 that went golfing in BKK.

I cant name a domestic ops aircraft that's had an equivalent incident (maybe the 763 that was headed to ADL and had landing gear issues - to me nowhere near the magnitude of the ones above.)

Last things first...the 763 was a total beat up. Undercarriage door failed to close..it really falls into 'so what'. In many circumstances, you could just ignore it and continue. It only became news because it wasn't long after QF30, and at that time a blocked toilet was news.

BKK was a long time ago. It was a mistake, pure and simple, in pretty poor weather.

The A330 was an Airbus issue, and could have happened with any AB, on any operation. Luck had it that it happened where it did. Again, very nicely handled.

The oxygen bottle...well, the final report on that is due soon. Suffice it to say that you are much more likely to win the major prize in lotto, two weeks running. Those bottles aren't normally used in domestic aircraft (767 has two for instance, whilst 747 carries around 13).

Much the same thing with the RB211 failure. I guess you're twice as likely to have a failure in a quad compared to a twin, but those engines are also much more prevalent in long haul ops than short.

 

[el_rooto]

Much the same thing with the RB211 failure. I guess you're twice as likely to have a failure in a quad compared to a twin, but those engines are also much more prevalent in long haul ops than short.

do long cycles affect this sort of thing?

 

[thewinchester]

Finally, someone of the fourth estate has taken a swipe at ALAEA Federal secretary Steve Purvinas and called him out.

Serious blow to Flying Kangaroo
GEOFFREY THOMAS, AVIATION EDITOR: COMMENT, The West Australian
November 5, 2010, 6:41 am

Claims by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association linking this incident and others with offshore maintenance are disturbing and disappointing.

"The dramatic increase in the number of safety incidents involving Qantas jets coincides with an increase in the amount of work that is no longer carried out in-house,"ALAEA Federal secretary Steve Purvinas said.

However, the facts do not appear to support the claim.

 

[philflyer]

I'd love to know what Qantas said to the passengers on the ground after they left the plane that made them say only nice things about Qantas as they walked through the media. From what I could see most of them said nothing to the waiting media.

 

[markis10]

I'd love to know what Qantas said to the passengers on the ground after they left the plane that made them say only nice things about Qantas as they walked through the media. From what I could see most of them said nothing to the waiting media.

Did you see the entire two hours it took to get them off or only what the media wanted to see, after all people saying "non event" and "handled well" are hardly the targets for a bad news story with juicy bits .

 

[Egg]

Dress it up anyway you feel comfortable but it is a judgement based solely on the nationality - to me that is racism.

Racist against who? Every race in the world except Australians? The point is that it is not a judgment based on race because, as Mal pointed out, Qantas could be outsourcing to any of a number of countries - some European, some Asian, the USA whatever. Race doesn't come into it. The issue is whether getting things done cheaper in other countries can reasonably give rise to quality fears - it's not racist to believe that it can.

It's about cost-cutting, not race. And it's also about whether it's reasonable to expect Qantas to employ Australians rather than preferring a cheaper overseas option. As Qantas benefits from from its Australian identity and its unique position as the Australian carrier, then give something back to Australia and create jobs here and not o/s.

 

[docjames]

Last things first...the 763 was a total beat up. Undercarriage door failed to close..it really falls into 'so what'. In many circumstances, you could just ignore it and continue. It only became news because it wasn't long after QF30, and at that time a blocked toilet was news.

BKK was a long time ago. It was a mistake, pure and simple, in pretty poor weather.

The A330 was an Airbus issue, and could have happened with any AB, on any operation. Luck had it that it happened where it did. Again, very nicely handled.

The oxygen bottle...well, the final report on that is due soon. Suffice it to say that you are much more likely to win the major prize in lotto, two weeks running. Those bottles aren't normally used in domestic aircraft (767 has two for instance, whilst 747 carries around 13).

Much the same thing with the RB211 failure. I guess you're twice as likely to have a failure in a quad compared to a twin, but those engines are also much more prevalent in long haul ops than short.

Whilst I agree with your synpopsis of those "incidents", I still ponder that the majority are on long haul a/c. Why arent similar "incidents" happening with the same sort of frequency on short haul?

I guess 4 engines vs 2 engines would have a difference (if failure rate is same per flight hours), but i guess it illustrates there are so many factors influencing an "incident".

FWIW I will (and have been) happily fly(ing) QF both in recent times and going forward.

Nice article here on the Captain (who my father happens to know....) and the crew's actions :
Qantas Pilot and Crew Praised After A380 Engine Explosion

 

[harvyk]

I'd love to know what Qantas said to the passengers on the ground after they left the plane that made them say only nice things about Qantas as they walked through the media. From what I could see most of them said nothing to the waiting media.

I got the feeling most of them where quite happy...

Such events do have the potential to require a great number of body bags, and yet they landed safely and walked away...

That would make me happy and not really in the mood to bad mouth the people who got me down safely...

 

[medhead]

Racist against who? Every race in the world except Australians?

Exactly hate them all equally!

Probably xenophobia is a better word than racism. :-|

 

[markis10]

The update provided by Mr Joyce this afternoon does contain an alarming piece of conjecture attributing the failure to a possible design issue rather than component failure:

"Mr Joyce said the cause of the engine failure was still being investigated, but it appeared likely to be a design problem"

Read more: Qantas rejects union maintenance concerns following dramatic mid-air explosion on A380 | News.com.au​

 

[pauly7]

QF32 A388 makes emergency landing in SIN after apparent engine failure

In other news QF has on the quiet added 777's to their fleet.

Sky news just reported (twice) that Qantas are utilizing their 777's to assist move passengers around.

Can anyone tell me when this happened?

Sky news is just a comedy show it makes me laugh! it's like the tv version of no news!

 

[straitman]

It's about cost-cutting, not race. And it's also about whether it's reasonable to expect Qantas to employ Australians rather than preferring a cheaper overseas option. As Qantas benefits from from its Australian identity and its unique position as the Australian carrier, then give something back to Australia and create jobs here and not o/s.

At the same time it is necessary to remember that this is a global industry and that it is necessary to get work done all over the world on an ongoing basis.

Qantas do support in Australia for OS airlines just as the OS airlines do support for Qantas across the world. It is the only way it can really work.

The thoughts of having a comprehensive maintenance base in Oz for six aircraft is just ludicrous.

 

[moa999]

In other news QF has on the quiet added 777's to their fleet.

Sky news just reported (twice) that Qantas are utilizing their 777's to assist move passengers around.

QF have wetleased BA 777s to help get passengers home. ie BA crew, BA pilots, QF flight number. Nothing to see here (and not the most efficient use of a 777)

 

[serfty]

In other news QF has on the quiet added 777's to their fleet.

Sky news just reported (twice) that Qantas are utilizing their 777's to assist move passengers around.

Can anyone tell me when this happened? ...

Qantas have chartered at least one 777 from BA in the short term.

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases

* QF10 (London-Singapore) on 5 November will be operated by a B777 aircraft chartered from British Airways. A decision will be made later this morning regarding customers with onward travel to Melbourne

 

[markis10]

Qantas have lease at least one 777 from BA in the short term.

Operating the next QF10 service.

 

[oz_mark]

"Mr Joyce said the cause of the engine failure was still being investigated, but it appeared likely to be a design problem"

http://www.news.com.au/national/qan...ns/story-e6frfkvr-1225948293801#ixzz14NJ2oFdW​

Not unprecedented. The Trent 700's had a quick redesign (gear box?) after Cathay grounded their A330 fleet back in the late 90's. If it is a design issue, I am sure they will fix it and move on.

 

[markis10]

Not unprecedented. The Trent 700's had a quick redesign (gear box?) after Cathay grounded their A330 fleet back in the late 90's. If it is a design issue, I am sure they will fix it and move on.

I am sure they will fix it, however a design issue will mean a much longer period of groundings than a component issue, and obviously affect other operators beyond a mere inspection or AD compliance.