Focus on Protective Breathing Equipment
Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE) protects the user’s face and respiratory system from heat, smoke and noxious gases. In-service events were reported to Airbus where the PBE did not work as expected or where cabin crew had difficulties using their equipment or inappropriately used it, which impaired their safety. This article explains the concept and specificities of […]
Use of Rudder
The use of rudder by the flight crew on Airbus aircraft is limited to the takeoff and landing roll, crosswind landings, or to counteract the yaw effect caused by an engine failure until the rudder is trimmed. Several events have been reported where the flight crew used rudder inputs after encountering turbulence, causing unnecessary trajectory […]
Preventing Loss of Engine Generators on A320 Family, A330 and A340 Aircraft
Some cases of emergency electrical configurations on A320 aircraft were reported to Airbus where both Integrated Drive Generators (IDGs) failed in sequence due to worn components inside their Constant Speed Drive (CSD).This article describes one of these events and explains why worn IDGs may have frequency regulation issues in certain circumstances that may lead to […]
Under the Spotlights
Two recent events with damage to the passenger windows of the aircraft were reported to Airbus. Similar events also happened on non-Airbus aircraft. The damage was caused by the heat of spotlights used during promotional filming sessions. One of these events could have had serious safety consequences as damage was not detected on ground, and […]
Bird or Hail Strikes on the Radome
Abnormal events such as bird strikes and hail strikes can occur at any time. When the aircraft is struck by birds or Foreign Object Debris (FOD), the correct inspection process must be followed, before the next flight, to determine if the aircraft is safe to fly.This article focuses on the effect that a bird or […]
Closing MEL Items: Why Sooner is Better
It is not always possible to repair a system failure before the next flight. The MEL permits the dispatch of an aircraft with inoperative equipment or functions for a limited period of time, and under specific conditions, while maintaining an acceptable level of safety. Current in-service data shows an increase in the number of requests […]
Correct Cargo Door Seal Installation for Safe Operation
Incorrect installation of a cargo doors seal may lead to unsafe in-flight operations such as abnormal cabin pressurization or an ineffective cargo fire extinguishing system.This article recalls the essential steps of the AMM for correct cargo door seal installation, including the required inspection after installation.
Look out for Ice Ridges on the Lower Nose Fuselage
With the start of the winter season in the northern hemisphere, it is a timely reminder to re-publish this article, initially published in 2018. Ice ridges on the lower nose fuselage can cause Computed Airspeed (CAS) values delivered by the ADRs to be lower than the actual airspeed which may lead to unreliable airspeed events. This […]
Lightning Strikes
Each in-service aircraft is struck by lightning at least once per year, on average. Even if the level of energy of lightning strikes is high, their effects on an aircraft are limited.This article explains the lightning phenomenon and why aircraft are prone to lightning strikes. It describes how aircraft are designed to limit the effects […]
Best Maintenance Practices for Redundant Systems
Performing similar maintenance tasks on redundant systems at the same time, or by the same person during a particular maintenance check, may lead to the repetition of a maintenance error. This creates a risk of simultaneous failure of the redundant systems when the aircraft is back into service.This article provides best practices to reduce this […]