Fatigue cracking not as a result of stress but because of a manufacturing issue causes widespread concern. The wing problem may cost Airbus a hundred million euros. Airbus will have to compensate airlines for the (estimated) five days time planes will be out of service for remediation.

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Man vs Wire

George’s Point of View

As opposed to Boeing, where the pilot always has the upper hand over the machine, the basic tenet of Airbus philosophy is machine knows best. That must be the case, because when all else fails, here comes the Airbus autopilot and the pilot can’t do anything. We’ve seen this bite pilots in the *** in a number of circumstances, but the first one that comes to mind, for me, is the big TAM crash in Sao Paulo. Not being a pilot, I’ve had to ask airbus pilots about this, and believe me, I’ve heard some horror stories that would curl your hair. Maybe that’s what is at the root of my negativity toward the Airbus. The other would be their tendency to crash and kill a lot of people at one time.

Anyway, Airbus recently started production of the A320 series in China. They just did a maiden flight on the first plane. I like China very much but I don’t know about getting on China-made planes. It is bad enough that they are Airbus.

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Airbus Braking Emergency in Kazakhstan


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Frank Kuehne

What: Air Astana Airbus A319-100 en route from Almaty to Pavlodar Kasakhstan
Where: Astana Kasakhstan
When: Aug 1st 2009
Who: 72 passengers and 7 crew
Why: The Air Astana Airbus declared an emergency when they discovered an (unspecified) brake problem. The flight diverted to Astana and made a safe landing.

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SilkAir Flight Returns to Chiang Mai due to Cracked Windshield

SilkAir flight MI-701 had to return and make an emergency landing in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on January 8th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Singapore but had to turn back after the crew noticed a crack in the windshield.

The plane landed safely. All one hundred and forty-six people aboard remained unharmed.

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Air Caraibes Flight Returns to Paris Orly Airport due to Engine Issue

Air Caraibes flight TX-540 had to return and make an emergency landing at Paris Orly Airport, France, on December 12th.

The Airbus A330-300 plane took off for Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, but had to turn back due to an engine issue.

The plane landed back safely. All three hundred people aboard remained unharmed.

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Locked in a Plane

Asleep unnoticed in the back of the plane at the time of disembarkation from his United Express/Expressjet flight from Lafayette, La. to Houston, passenger Tom Wagner woke up at the end of the line–in the dark, locked inside a cold plane empty of crew and passengers.

What should be the consequences of being locked inside a plane? Flight attendants have walk-thru procedures, don’t they? At any rate, however the situation began, Wagner had his cell phone with him and was able to initiate the ending. He just called someone who called the airline, and the airline called the crew, and somebody showed up and let him out.

Houston was a layover for Wagner, so after a (free) motel night, he was given a $250 voucher to finish his trip.

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Qantas Airbus Lightning Strike


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Andrew Hunt

What: Qantas Airbus A330-300 en route from Singapore to Perth
Where: Singapore
When: Jul 22nd 2009
Why: After takeoff in bad weather, the plane’s left wing was struck by lightning; however the flight continued to Perth without any issues.

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