Air Asia X turns back and circles for 4 hours to burn fuel...

[Jet Jockey A4]

Before landing at its original departure point due to an "auto-thrust" failure. :confused:


For Airbus A330-300 pilots is this a normal thing to do?

Would you on a scheduled 10 hour flight, turn around after 45 minutes, circle for 4 hours to burn fuel and then land just for an auto-thrust failure?


AirAsia X flight turns back due to technical problem | CTV News (http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/airasia-x-flight-turns-back-due-to-technical-problem-1.2226072)

[fox niner]

I wouldn't turn back.

Autothrust u/s is dispatchable per A330 MEL. See below:

22-30-01B

(o) (m) (T) May be inoperative on both engines provided that:
1) ETOPS beyond 180 min is not conducted, and
2) All thrust lever position sensors are checked operative.
(o) Refer to OpsProc 22-30-01B Engine Autothrust (A/THR)
(m) Refer to AMM 22-30-00-040-802

[DOVES]

The Mel simply do not exist during flight!!!

[Jet Jockey A4]

Yes, yes we know but the question is...

Do you turn back after 45 minutes into a flight for a failed auto-thrust?

[fox niner]

What I meant by looking in the mel, was this:

Is there a problem for the current flight execution? No.
Is there going to be a dispatch problem after reaching destination? No.
--> Continue.

[Jet Jockey A4]

I think most people understood your logic! :ok:

[Intruder]

What is the non-normal checklist for autothrust failure? Is autothrust that important on the Airbus? :eek:

[Jet Jockey A4]

Well if there is a MEL relief for it and you can go, I'm sure an in-flight failure will let you continue the flight.