Originally Posted by
HambleTinBasher
Accordingly, my question still stands. To re-state – why are the French investigators asking the manufacturer of the flaperon if a particular flaperon was fitted to MH370 at the time the aeroplane went missing?
Think about it.
Malaysian know the serial number of the corresponding flaperon assembly that was fitted to 9M-MRO when it went down. In all probability it's the one that the aircraft was delivered with, but if it has been changed at any point then details will be in the aircraft's maintenance records.
If the flaperon had been washed up with its serial number plate intact, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
But of course it wasn't, so the investigators need to ask EADS-CASA if its build records for flaperon serial number known to be fitted to 9M-MRO can be used to positively ID any of its component parts. If that proves to be feasible, the investigators would in all likelihood disassemble the flaperon to establish whether it does or doesn't contain component parts that can be tied to the one that went down with the aircraft.
So, in effect, the investigators are asking the flaperon manufacturer for evidence that would show, albeit indirectly, whether the one washed up belongs to MH370.