Euro Aviation Authorities Issue Inspection Directive over Cracks Seen on A380 Wings
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued advisories to a number of airlines around the world to immediately implement check ups on their Airbus A380 fleets after the reported detection of cracks on the wings of some of the passenger plane.
In a statement EASA relased Friday last week, aviation authorities recommended on these airlines to conduct the required tests, with specific emphasis on up to 30 A380s currently deployed in a number of countries.
According to Agence France Presse (AFP), 67 A380s have been identified by EASA investigators as likely bearing the same cracks seen on its initial probe.
"Following an unscheduled internal inspection of an A380 wing, some rib feet have been found with cracks originating from the rib to skin panel attachment holes," AFP reported EASA as saying on its advisory sent out to different airlines.
"A new form of rib foot cracking originating from the forward and aft edges of the vertical web of the rib feet has been identified," the EASA advisory added.
EASA further warned that its advisory must be given immediate attention, especially in the case of A380s that have already logged higher travel times.
"This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane," the EASA directive warned.
Source cited by AFP has pinpointed nine A380s for immediate inspection as early as Tuesday this week and another 21 Airbus aircrafts by late February or early March.
Officials of Singapore Airlines confirmed on Saturday that the company received the EASA notice and 10 of its A380s have been lined for check ups as per the recommendation of EASA investigators.
"We are carrying out the checks as instructed ... We are already inspecting one of our aircraft as a precautionary measure," the company told AFP.
The news agency also said that six A380s on Singapore Airlines' fleet have been scheduled for inspection this week, with another four to be checked up later on.
"The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we will ensure that we take whatever action is needed for the continued safe operation of our A380 fleet," AFP reported the Asian airline as saying on its statement.
Another Asian airliner, Korean Air, said over the weekend that its five A380s appear to be free from the defects identified in the new EASA advisory.
"We've found no cracks on the planes but we're waiting for detailed instructions from EASA or the manufacturer ... We would carry out microscopic checks if we're told to do so," the Korean Air statement said on Saturday.
The company, however, did not comment on whether the new development will affect its plan of acquiring five more Airbus A380 by 2016, AFP wrote.
Earlier this month, Airbus admitted that cracks have been found on A380 wings but the company assured that the problem will not affect the safe operations of the jumbo passenger plane.
Yet along with its attempt to downplay the discovery of the cracks, Airbus has sent recommendations on how airlines can repair the wing defects.