Cracks found on A380 wing parts called "non-critical"
Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways said this morning that they have discovered cracks on the wing ribs of some of their A380s, Reuters reports. However, both airlines -- along with Airbus -- insist that the cracks pose no safety threat and that repairs have been made.
The Wall Street Journal writes:
European commercial aircraft builder Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., or EADS, has informed airlines operating its A380 superjumbos to check for small cracks in wing rib-skin attachments, but said the "minor" cracks are "non-critical" and don"t constitute a safety issue.
The Sydney Morning Herald adds:
The European plane maker has confirmed that the cracks have been found in various parts of the wing rib attachments of five superjumbos – one belonging to Qantas, two to Singapore Airlines, one to Emirates and one of Airbus"s development aircraft.
Less than a centimetre in length, the cracks were found on the L-shaped feet of the wing ribs. The feet attach the rib – a vertical fixture – to the cover of the wing.
Airbus engineers first discovered the problem during repair work to a Qantas A380 – the airline"s first one – which has been in Singapore since it suffered an engine failure over Indonesia"s Batam island in 2010, according to the Journal.
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The Journal writes the discovery is "likely to raise fresh doubts about the safety of the aircraft," but Airbus and its operators insist that the cracks pose no risk.
"We have traced the origin. Airbus has developed an inspection and repair procedure which will be done during routine, scheduled four-year maintenance checks," Airbus says in a statement quoted by AFP. "In the meantime, Airbus emphasizes that the safe operation of