Airworthiness Directive. The owner is ordered to make the repair, with a schedule supplied by the Regulating Authority. Unlikely that the pitot r/r would have involved a RTB anyway. Clearly, the Regulator was good with the "at your leisure" pace set by Airbus. No one entity can be singled out for this egregious lapse in safety concerns. To me, all three are equally culpable.
After BA038 went in, UAL discovered a non compliance issue with the fire Bottle #5 Inspection Record in their 777 fleet. They recalled all a/c back to station for an inspection, immediately. It was deferrable, but the line chose to exercise caution.
This foot dragging by AF with the pitots is classic backscratching. It is similar to the "negotiated" relaxation of the TRENT inspections on the Qantas 380 that led to an engine explosion.
It is a cordial, "adversarial" and a negotiated diminution of safety.
Last edited by Lyman; 25th September 2011 at 14:40.
Reason: bolding for Doze, emphasis the schedule varies per Reg