AF 447 Thread No. 6

[infrequentflyer789]

Originally Posted by DozyWannabe

Originally Posted by infrequentflyer789
The biggest problem with replaceing them turned out to be actually getting enough (decent) pitots out of the supply chain.

Now I didn't know that - have you got a source for that just so I've got it on file?

One reference point is that the ADs allowed for replacing only two out of three probes with Goodrich initially, leaving one Thales.

Didn't find my original remembered source, but did find others including this:
EASA and FAA Airbus Pitot Requirements

120-day compliance time. The time was necessary to accommodate a "short-term" problem with the availability of replacement parts "A shorter compliance time might have resulted in the unnecessary removal of airplanes from service pending delivery of replacement parts," FAA said.

Which probably means everyone was right in that argument - could have grounded planes but didn't because risks were assessed and timescales were managed.