Gulf Air may modify Airbus parts
Posted on » Saturday, August 01, 2009
GULF AIR could modify the mechanics of some of its planes after airlines were ordered to replace speed probes on Airbus A330 and A340 jets linked to the loss of an Air France flight.
Officials yesterday said they would review the component requirements specified by manufacturers, following the death of 228 people on board an A330-200 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in June this year.
The decision follows orders from plane manufacturer Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency, which said "pitot" speed monitors made by the European electronics giant Thales should be replaced by those of the US firm Goodrich.
Investigators believe false data from the speed monitors could have contributed to the crash of Flight 447 in the Atlantic on June 1 and airlines have already begun replacing the devices.
But recently an Airbus A320 plane equipped with new generation pitot probes made by Thales experienced a similar malfunction, causing pilots' unions to demand versions built by Goodrich.
A Gulf Air spokeswoman yesterday said the airline would fully co-operate with industry requirements.
"The safety of passengers is of utmost importance to Gulf Air and as part of our standard operating procedures we will review component requirements as specified by manufactures and regulators, and reconfigure as necessary," she said.
Air France has already confirmed it will comply with the decision and update its fleet.
Gulf Air last month urged passengers not to panic following a second incident involving an Airbus A330-200 in just over a week.
An A330-200 operated by JetStar had to make an emergency landing at the Guam International Airport last month after a fire broke out in the cockpit.
It was on its way from Osaka, Japan, to Coolangatta, Australia, with 200 people on board.