Aviation safety agency orders inspection of entire A380 fleet

Birmingham Star Wednesday 8th February, 2012

SYDNEY - Australia's flag carrier Qantas Airways Ltd. said Wednesday it has pulled one of its A380 super jumbos out of service after cracks were discovered in its wings, despite Airbus assuring that there is no threat to safety.

The crack found on Qantas' aircraft are different from those detected in the wings of some A380s last month, prompting a European Aviation Safety Agency directive for precautionary inspection of the entire fleet.

Qantas undertook inspection after its aircraft ran into severe turbulence above India in early January.

"During these inspections minor cracking has been found on some wing rib feet," a Qantas spokeswoman said.

The inspection has revealed the crack to manufacturing fault and not related to the weather turbulence.

The airlines is awaiting Airbus advice on whether repairs will be required to fix the cracks.

While Airbus has consistently maintained that the aircraft remains safe, the European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered inspection of the entire fleet in service, extending an order in January to inspect 20 out of 68 A380s jets in service.

All seven airlines that currently operate the A380 would now be required to inspect their planes for the hairline fissures within the next few weeks, said Dominique Fouda, a spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The earlier January order had applied only to the planes that had completed over 1,300 take-off and landing cycles since first entering service in 2007.

Broadening of the A380 inspection comes at a time when Airbus' rival Boeing is facing some fuselage problems in its 787 Dreamliner aircraft, slowing its production ramp up plans.