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 […]
Further Preventing Loss of Control In-flight
Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I) has been one of the main categories of fatal accidents since the beginning of commercial jet aviation. While flight envelope protections in fourth-generation aircraft have reduced LOC-I incidents by 90% compared to third-generation aircraft, the continuous enhancement of aircraft systems is necessary to further prevent potential future accidents. Airbus has […]
Editorial – January 2025
by Yannick MALINGE – SVP – Head of Aviation Safety
Engine Relight After an All-engine Flameout
An all-engine flameout is one of the most stressful situations where flight crews need to urgently relight the aircraft engines. Incorrect application of the engine relight sequence can lead to delayed or unsuccessful engine restarts.This article describes an in-service event in which such a situation was encountered. It recalls the various steps of the engine […]
Preventing Tailstrike During Go-around Near the Ground
The focus of this article is go-around near the ground, sometimes called, “rejected landing”. This follows our previous article: “A Focus on the Landing Flare” article published September 2020 and “A Focus on the Takeoff Rotation” published January 2021. Those articles provided recommendations for avoiding tailstrikes when performing landing flare and takeoff rotation. There is […]
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 […]
Wake Vortices
All aircraft generate wake vortices, also known as wake turbulence, which continue to be evident far behind the generating aircraft. Another aircraft crossing this wake may feel a sharp and brief turbulence which can be strong under some circumstances. Let’s review the specific characteristics of wake vortices’ and how pilots should react in case of […]
Editorial – July 2024
by Yannick MALINGE – SVP – Head of Aviation Safety
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.