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 […]
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 […]
Editorial – January 2024
by Yannick MALINGE – SVP – Head of Aviation Safety
Inappropriate V/S Target during Autoflight Mode Reversion
Two cases of inappropriate V/S target during an autoflight reversion to V/S mode after a go-around were recently reported to Airbus. In both cases, the inappropriate V/S target resulted in a pitch down command of the autopilot with high thrust. The flight guidance used the previously selected V/S value set during the preceding ILS glide […]
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 […]
Cockpit Control Confusion
Inadvertent use of the wrong cockpit control instead of the intended control is a potential situation that pilots may encounter on any aircraft type. This kind of error can occur with even the most experienced pilots and this article explores what factors can influence and lead to this type of occurrence. The resilience of the […]
Editorial – July 2023
by Yannick MALINGE – SVP & Chief Product Safety Officer
Inadvertent Autopilot Engagement during Takeoff on A220 Aircraft
Several in-service events were reported to Airbus where the flight crew inadvertently selected the autopilot while attempting to engage the autothrottle during the takeoff roll. Inadvertent autopilot engagement may result in early rotation that can lead to a tail strike, inability to climb, runway overrun, or even loss of control. The purpose of this article […]
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 […]