As of recent Airbus had operated with composite materials that now Boeing is adapting out of a need to compete. Airbus sets guidlines for bonding of composite materials to the airframe, none the less the A300 stab/rudder failure over Long Island makes me suspicious of the ability to inspect MAJOR structrual components made out of composite material.
Alumininum and alloys are easily inspected for structural degredation as extirior cracks are visible to simple testing procedures way prior to catastorphic failure. Metals dissipate static electricity easily with the means that are in current use.
Composite materials I can only hope (eg: 787) have allready had thurough process engeneering to allow for the same static dissipatition abilities and new inspection procees to find stress damage prior to failure.