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The reason I asked the question about switching over to the UAE engines is because they must already have a certified configuration.
Originally posted by sy.gunson
It's a very difficult proposition to re-engine an aircraft. Cammacorp did so with the DC-8 but had to redesign the engine pylons and have these certified at huge expense.
That makes sense. I never thought it would be cheap to re-engine it, just less time consuming than engineering a new engine from scratch.
Also the electical and fuel supply systems may need reconfiguration.
It would be cheaper to render the modular exchange of turbine sections unlawful and require total engine overhauls in lieu of removing modules.
Originally posted by sy.gunson
I certainly agree that it would be more expensive to design out the modularity however indications are pointing to the conclusion that this was behind seal leaks.
Originally posted by sy.gunson
If the flanged seal which was identified as the cause is redesigned, then only time will tell if that is a band aid solution.
Originally posted by sy.gunson
Ultimately insurance companies will decide the survival of RR trent engines
Manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce has said the mid-air failure of one of its Trent 900 engines on a Qantas superjumbo had led to costs of £56m. The explosion in the engine forced an emergency landing of the A380 in November last year. The one-off cost contributed to annual pre-tax profits dropping 76% to £702m in 2010 from £2.96bn.
I'd love to see that picture if you get a chance to post it!
Originally posted by thebozeian
VH-OQA update:
The skin plank section would be around .500" thick and it looked like it had been given the proverbial hot knife through butter treatment. Most impressive. If I think to I might take a pic and post it up.
Thanks for the update Lee, I find it fascinating!
... will keep you posted on anything I see or hear.
I don't know but Rolls Royce stock is up almost to where it was back before the accident so investors must think the overall impact on the business of any lost jet engine sales will be minimal. In fact the stock is up about 30% from a year ago.
Originally posted by solidshot
Seems to have put a dent in their profit margins in the short term at least? Wonder if this will lead to more airlines switching to a different engine in the future though?
Airbus had ruled out as a cause of the cracks flight loads, fatigue or the large size of the aircraft.
They will inspect for the cracks every 4 years.
Airbus's head of engineering, Charles Champion, told Fairfax Media that its analysis had determined that the tiny cracks posed no threat to the safety of the aircraft.
"The aircraft is absolutely safe because there are so many ways for the loads to travel within the structure of the wing," he said.
"As it really is not a safety issue, we will inspect them over time ... within the next four years – some of them before."
The inspection of the wing ribs will take place when each aircraft is due for heavy maintenance.
The aircraft manufacturer has traced the problem to an aluminium material used in the wing ribs – called 7449 – which tends to be more sensitive to the way the parts are assembled on the wing.
They didn't say what caused the order deferral.
Qantas has a further 11 superjumbos in its fleet which fly long-haul international routes to London and Los Angeles. It will take delivery of a further two A380s next year but has deferred orders for a further six superjumbos by up to six years.
Twenty Airbus A380s will have to undergo checks for cracks in their wings, the safety regulator has said. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the planes, a third of the current fleet, would undergo a "visual inspection" for cracks. A few planes, which have carried out more than 1,800 flights, will need inspections within four days, it said.