A380 - VH-OQA Write Off.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would find it very hard to believe that a near new A380, costing over US$300M would be written off, despite a long list of substantial damage.
Yes, the spar repair process isn't written up, because it's an entirely new plane, and nothing like this was specifically foreseen and planned for... but what's to stop the repair being carried out, and the process written up, as it's being done?
Let's see... despite all the aforementioned damage, the plane flew for a considerable period, under full control, and landed, still under control.
It wasn't a seat-of-the-pants, good-luck landing... it was still controllable. The fuselage is relatively undamaged.
There was no fire. Thus there is no heat-affected, or extensively-damaged-over-a-wide-area, style of damage.
Yes, there is a lot of damage to repair. Much worse damage has been repaired and the planes flew again.
QF VH-OJH cost $100M to repair. It was repaired and it flies again.
D-ABYU, a B747-230 Freighter of Lufthansa Cargo crashed at Kai Tek, suffering as much, if not worse damage than VH-OJH. It was repaired and flies again.
F-GITA, a B747-428 of Air France crashed at Papeete, suffering enormous structural damage. It was repaired and it flies again.
The A380 hasn't yet had a major incident... until now. Every incident with a new model adds to the learning curve. I don't think AB have designed the A380 to be turned into scrap, after one major incident. Yes, the trend is going that way with much manufacturing... but not with the worlds largest aircraft that boasts state-of-the-art engineering, and a brand-new design. I think what needs to admired, is that despite serious damage to a very complex aircraft, it landed safely, and there was no fire and no loss of pax. I don't know what else you could ask of an aircraft.
Airbus aircraft are no more susceptible to engine burst events than any other make, and the A380 has shown satisfactory durability after an engine burst event.
I will cheerfully wager it is repaired, and the model will continue to show durability.
Yes, the spar repair process isn't written up, because it's an entirely new plane, and nothing like this was specifically foreseen and planned for... but what's to stop the repair being carried out, and the process written up, as it's being done?
Let's see... despite all the aforementioned damage, the plane flew for a considerable period, under full control, and landed, still under control.
It wasn't a seat-of-the-pants, good-luck landing... it was still controllable. The fuselage is relatively undamaged.
There was no fire. Thus there is no heat-affected, or extensively-damaged-over-a-wide-area, style of damage.
Yes, there is a lot of damage to repair. Much worse damage has been repaired and the planes flew again.
QF VH-OJH cost $100M to repair. It was repaired and it flies again.
D-ABYU, a B747-230 Freighter of Lufthansa Cargo crashed at Kai Tek, suffering as much, if not worse damage than VH-OJH. It was repaired and flies again.
F-GITA, a B747-428 of Air France crashed at Papeete, suffering enormous structural damage. It was repaired and it flies again.
The A380 hasn't yet had a major incident... until now. Every incident with a new model adds to the learning curve. I don't think AB have designed the A380 to be turned into scrap, after one major incident. Yes, the trend is going that way with much manufacturing... but not with the worlds largest aircraft that boasts state-of-the-art engineering, and a brand-new design. I think what needs to admired, is that despite serious damage to a very complex aircraft, it landed safely, and there was no fire and no loss of pax. I don't know what else you could ask of an aircraft.
Airbus aircraft are no more susceptible to engine burst events than any other make, and the A380 has shown satisfactory durability after an engine burst event.
I will cheerfully wager it is repaired, and the model will continue to show durability.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Permanently lost
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wasn't there a QF B707 upset over India one night during the 1970's? That would have come close to a disaster, I would think.
My very imperfect memory of that event (I am sure someone with better information than I will correct me) was that a gyro (or something similar) stopped working in the autopilot of a 707 somewhere over the middle east. The aircraft pitched nose up very rapidly and the airframe suffered from being overstressed. The crew made an emergency landing. I thought the airframe was written off but I cannot be certain about that.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Near an Airport
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The word I hear is that Airbus wants to write it off and Qantas wants it fixed?
It would be interesting to compare how much money OQA would make in revenue flights compared to the amount of money that could be earned in terms of compensation and warranty claims with it sitting on the ground for the same period in the current situation.
AWBC
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alabama, then Wyoming, then Idaho and now staying with Kharon on Styx houseboat
Age: 61
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have heard the same intel as KrispyKreme.
None of the players, QF/Airbus/Rolls Royce want the bad publicity to continue and they want a quick resolution. I am hearing that Airbus will buy back the Dugong (as it is still a valuable assett), Rolls will pay QF compensation (still being dicussed) and QF inturn will get another Dugong as a replacement (keeping their 'good safety record' ). Rolls is willing to 'eat the sh#t sandwich' as it is their fault, and they want to keep QF and Airbus onside for future synergies. All three parties are working together to nut out the finances and therfore quickly bury the problem . I am also hearing that due to the spar damage the beast will be chopped up and shipped back to France, however this has not yet been confimed but is the most likely scenario.
Stay tuned.
None of the players, QF/Airbus/Rolls Royce want the bad publicity to continue and they want a quick resolution. I am hearing that Airbus will buy back the Dugong (as it is still a valuable assett), Rolls will pay QF compensation (still being dicussed) and QF inturn will get another Dugong as a replacement (keeping their 'good safety record' ). Rolls is willing to 'eat the sh#t sandwich' as it is their fault, and they want to keep QF and Airbus onside for future synergies. All three parties are working together to nut out the finances and therfore quickly bury the problem . I am also hearing that due to the spar damage the beast will be chopped up and shipped back to France, however this has not yet been confimed but is the most likely scenario.
Stay tuned.
Wasn't there a QF B707 upset over India one night during the 1970's? That would have come close to a disaster, I would think.
Story I heard was that the Captain's AI toppled and he followed it, doing a rough barrel-roll but with a few G's. One of the crew managed to crawl forwards and stop it all. Something like that, don't quote me but the rego is right AFAIK.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Boring Point
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmmm!...Interesting!...
no mention of the golf course prang a few years ago??!!
Oh well...a repair job of $100M to replace an A/C that cost...wait for it!...$100M, is not really a hull loss is it?
no mention of the golf course prang a few years ago??!!
Oh well...a repair job of $100M to replace an A/C that cost...wait for it!...$100M, is not really a hull loss is it?
Yep, VH-EBB, later sold to the Kiwi's.
Story I heard was that the Captain's AI toppled and he followed it, doing a rough barrel-roll but with a few G's. One of the crew managed to crawl forwards and stop it all. Something like that, don't quote me but the rego is right AFAIK.
Story I heard was that the Captain's AI toppled and he followed it, doing a rough barrel-roll but with a few G's. One of the crew managed to crawl forwards and stop it all. Something like that, don't quote me but the rego is right AFAIK.
I think we may be talking about the, "Bahrain Bomber" ???
The Bahrain Bomber > Retired and Ex Qantas Crew Community > Member Articles
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Between East and West Poles.
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VH-EAB
This was the aircaft that did the 'barrel roll' near India. It was a B707-338C, later went to Young Air Cargo in Belgium, then was P2-ANA with Air New Guinea. I think after the incident near India it was used by Qantas for a Royal tour to Australia. VH EBB was a B747-238B.
707 to the Kiwi's?
Don't recall ANY NZ outfit flying a 707, so I doubt EBB ever flew with a ZK rego. According to the Boeing data book, EBB went on to become N790SA, then D-ADAP, TC-JBP, N790FA and was written off as N138SR with Comtran Int'l 01/99 in Nigeria.
Plainmaker
Plainmaker
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gold coast QLD australia
Age: 86
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If they got that BKK wreck back into the air, than they can get Nancy. That aircraft has spent more time in the hangar than in the air, but for Nancy's sake I hope she can be at least serve some time in the fleet, because her name sake was amazing. If she was called the Julia Gillard well what can I say, but Nancy Bird Walton, she should be a legend. Let her fly again.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Between East and West Poles.
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re Plane Makers Reply.
There were two aircraft registered as VH-EBB, the first one he describes was a B707-138, later confugured to a B707-138B, ended it`s days burnt out in Nigeria. The other later one VH-EBB was a B747-238B.
There were two aircraft registered as VH-EBB, the first one he describes was a B707-138, later confugured to a B707-138B, ended it`s days burnt out in Nigeria. The other later one VH-EBB was a B747-238B.
To those interested in fact rather than fiction (rumour) the following is recent information.
The a/c damage identified so far has been surveyed at $75M by Airclaims who are being assisted by Thomas Montagne; the Technical Services Manager for Airbus. The a/c was/is insured by the AON Corporation of the US.
The a/c damage identified so far has been surveyed at $75M by Airclaims who are being assisted by Thomas Montagne; the Technical Services Manager for Airbus. The a/c was/is insured by the AON Corporation of the US.
Last edited by B772; 5th Dec 2010 at 10:20.
Nunc est bibendum
Oh well...a repair job of $100M to replace an A/C that cost...wait for it!...$100M, is not really a hull loss is it?
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Devonport Tasmania Australia
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Personally the Loco would like to see Miss Nancy repaired if it is viable.
Having flown on the girl on the 1st International passenger service before entering service, I and everyone else aboard fell in love.
One can only marvel at the expertise and airmanship of the crew to hold together what was a close to untenable set of circumstances. In WWII that would have drawn a bunch of DFCs.
God it's great to have our Aussie crews!!
If they can't fix OQA, I am sure LRE will find some space, a lot that is.
I hope they do, but I have always been a "favourite aeroplane" sook.
Maybe the fact that OQA is haunted by Nancy-Bird helped the guys and girls to get her down safely too. Think on that. Refer to the Eastern
L1011 in Ghost of Flight 401. If you haven't read it you must be a journo - shoo!!!
Bring the girl home - and fix her if you can.
Best all
EWL
Can't help it.
Having flown on the girl on the 1st International passenger service before entering service, I and everyone else aboard fell in love.
One can only marvel at the expertise and airmanship of the crew to hold together what was a close to untenable set of circumstances. In WWII that would have drawn a bunch of DFCs.
God it's great to have our Aussie crews!!
If they can't fix OQA, I am sure LRE will find some space, a lot that is.
I hope they do, but I have always been a "favourite aeroplane" sook.
Maybe the fact that OQA is haunted by Nancy-Bird helped the guys and girls to get her down safely too. Think on that. Refer to the Eastern
L1011 in Ghost of Flight 401. If you haven't read it you must be a journo - shoo!!!
Bring the girl home - and fix her if you can.
Best all
EWL
Can't help it.