Airbus A380

Airbus A380 Engine Pylons May Need Air Holes to Avoid Fire Risk

Airlines operating Airbus SAS’s A380 superjumbo may be required to modify equipment that connects the plane’s engines to its wings, safety regulators said, citing a risk of overheating that could cause a fire.

Test flights revealed a buildup of heat in the pylons of A380s equipped with Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc Trent 900 engines, the European Aviation Safety Agency said today in a proposed airworthiness directive which would require carriers to install ventilation holes in some of the panels covering the structures.

“This condition could, in case of a heavy fuel leak, lead to an ignition of fuel vapors, possibly resulting in a fuel fire and consequent damage to the aeroplane and/or injury to its occupants,” EASA said in the directive, which is open for consultation until Oct. 28. If made mandatory, the modifications would have to be implemented within a 10-month period, it said.

Australian carrier [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] grounded its A380s for 23 days last year after a Trent 900 failure prompted an emergency landing in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on Nov. 4. Rolls-Royce has since carried out modifications to address issues with a faulty oil pipe, and the glitch disclosed today is unrelated, Airbus said.

The planned directive would affect the Trent-equipped -841 and -842 variants of the A380, all manufacturer serial numbers, except for planes that have already been modified, EASA said.

Today’s proposal follows a bulletin issued by Airbus to A380 operators on July 25 after the manufacturer uncovered the overheating issue during its own test flights, spokesman [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] said by phone, adding that the EASA directive is a standard response. Schaffrath said that the period permitted to address the problem indicates the low perceived risk.

EASA said no-one was immediately available to comment further, and London-based Rolls-Royce declined to comment.

A380s equipped with Engine Alliance turbines made by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and Pratt and Whitney aren’t affected.

Airlines operating Airbus SAS’s A380 superjumbo may be required to modify equipment that connects the plane’s engines to its wings. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg.

Airlines operating Airbus SAS’s A380 superjumbo may be required to modify equipment that connects the plane’s engines to its wings, safety regulators said, citing a risk of overheating that could cause a fire.

Pylône ? Serait-ce un 'problème-moteur' , ... ou un problème de l'airframe ? Quelle est la vraie "root cause" ?

Test flights revealed a buildup of heat in the pylons of A380s equipped with Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc Trent 900 engines, the European Aviation Safety Agency said today in a proposed airworthiness directive which would require carriers to install ventilation holes in some of the panels covering the structures.

“This condition could, in case of a heavy fuel leak, lead to an ignition of fuel vapors, possibly resulting in a fuel fire and consequent damage to the aeroplane and/or injury to its occupants,” EASA said in the directive, which is open for consultation until Oct. 28. If made mandatory, the modifications would have to be implemented within a 10-month period, it said.

Australian carrier [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] grounded its A380s for 23 days last year after a Trent 900 failure prompted an emergency landing in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on Nov. 4. Rolls-Royce has since carried out modifications to address issues with a faulty oil pipe, and the glitch disclosed today is unrelated, Airbus said.

The planned directive would affect the Trent-equipped -841 and -842 variants of the A380, all manufacturer serial numbers, except for planes that have already been modified, EASA said.

Today’s proposal follows a bulletin issued by Airbus to A380 operators on July 25 after the manufacturer uncovered the overheating issue during its own test flights, spokesman [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] said by phone, adding that the EASA directive is a standard response. Schaffrath said that the period permitted to address the problem indicates the low perceived risk.

EASA said no-one was immediately available to comment further, and London-based Rolls-Royce declined to comment.

A380s equipped with Engine Alliance turbines made by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and Pratt and Whitney aren’t affected.

• Commande de 380 lors du salon de Dubai
  
• Pour l'instant pas intéressé par le 777 "évolué"
  
• toujours des doutes sur les performances réelles du 350-1000
  
• le 787 de Qatar dera un "must"
  

]Boeing 777 becomes Qatar Airways’ 100th airplane
While [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was the big news item at a Boeing-Qatar Airways event Friday, the ceremony was actually intended to mark delivery of the carrier’s 100th airliner, a Boeing 777-200LR.

“This aircraft type quickly became the backbone of our long-haul fleet,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said. “This is an airplane that can take us anywhere in the world we want from our hub in Doha (Qatar).”

they received is one of our 777s. … They started off 10 years ago and here they are today one of the premium airlines in the world.”

In other airplane news, Al Baker said Qatar Airways expects to get its first [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] around the middle of next year. He said that was delayed from a recent expectation of February because of certification issues with some of the equipment the airline plans to instal in the aircraft.

“It will be the most luxurious 787 flying in the sky. I promise you that,” Al Baker said. But he declined to elaborate, saying the airline would release details at the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] exhibition, in March.

Asked about potential interest in Boeing’s planned upgraded 777, Al Baker said he would have to wait to see what Boeing does. He also reiterated concerns about Airbus’ competing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-1000, saying: “We do not feel confident that that aircraft will do what it is proposed to.”

Al Baker also said Qatar Airways has ordered more super-jumbo Airbus [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], but won’t publicly announce the order until the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], in November.

• KE N° 4 le MSN068
  
• SQ N° 13 le MSN071
  
• SQ N° 14 le MSN065
  
• China Southern N° 1 le MSN031
  
• EK N° 16 le MSN077
  
• EK N° 17 le MSN080
  

Trent XWB prêt pour les essais - Flying Test Bed ready with A350XWB engine
Depuis son arrivée à Toulouse, les équipes sont mobilisées pour monter et adapter le Rolls Royce Trent XWB sur l'Airbus A380 MSN001.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

C'est chose faite et un autre grand moment pour l'A350XWB. Le Flying Test Bed est désormais armé de son nouveau moteur et subir une batterie de tests intensive au sol avant son premier vol en fin d'année.

Bravo à toute l'équipe pour ce formidable travail.


Following its arrival in Toulouse, all the team has been focused to mount the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine into the A380 MSN001 Flying Test Bed.

This is another success in all the different milestones passed by the A350XWB.

The Flying Test Bed will now go under extensive ground tests ahead of its first flight later this year.

Congratulation to all the team for this fantastic work.

Airbus has delivered thAirbus delivers China Southern Airlines’ first A380

e first A380 to China Southern Airlines. During a very special celebration ceremony today at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse, France, the first out of five aircraft ordered was handed over from Airbus President and CEO, Tom Enders to China Southern Airlines Chairman, Si Xianmin.

China Southern Airlines becomes the first operator of the world's most eco-efficient aircraft in China and the 7th globally. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trend-900 engines, the aircraft will be initially operated on domestic routes between the major Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Later on, the airline will deploy the A380 on international routes.

At the ceremony, China Southern Airlines unveiled its spacious and comfortable A380 cabin, featuring a total of 506 seats in a typical three class configuration, including eight luxury first-class suites, 70 lie-flat business-class seats and 428 economy-class seats. Passengers’ well–being will be enhanced through innovative mood lighting including several different lighting scenarios to create a relaxing atmosphere and environment. The state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system makes it easy for passengers to select from a wide variety of audio and video programs and make their long-haul A380 trip something to remember. The cabin also offers seats and lavatories that are easily accessible to disabled passengers.

"We are proud to become the first A380 operator in China,” said Si Xianmin, Chairman of China Southern Airlines. “The introduction of the A380 in our fleet is a very important step for the development of China Southern. This most spacious and modern aircraft enables us, to offer our passengers world-standard comfort on our flights. The economics offered by the A380 will undoubtedly improve our competitiveness on international routes and is the perfect asset to make China Southern Airlines achieve its goal of becoming a leading global carrier.”

"We offer China Southern Airlines our warmest welcome as the newest operator of the A380," said Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus. "The A380 has set new standards in comfort, economic efficiency and environmental performance. With the A380, China Southern Airlines will surely play a key role in the top league of the world's leading airlines."

Since entering service in 2007 the eco-efficient A380 has exceeded all expectations, flying more people further at lower cost (some 16 million passengers up to date). The spacious, the quieter cabin and the smooth ride have made the aircraft a favourite with passengers. This has resulted in higher than average load factors and increased profitability on A380 flights, providing airlines with a key competitive advantage wherever they operate the type. Typically seating 525 passengers in a three class layout, the A380 is capable of flying 8,300 nautical miles or 15,300 kilometres.

For additional information, photos and video clips from today’s delivery see [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]