Brand new Etihad A340-600 damaged in Toulouse; several wounded
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London
Age: 38
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Was this story important enough to make the news in the UK? At least the "Europe" section of the bbc website say: Apparantly not.
Once again the airbuscentric press in this country; I should stop being so naive I suppose, the bbc after all do think there is only one plane in the world now the a380 has been born.
Once again the airbuscentric press in this country; I should stop being so naive I suppose, the bbc after all do think there is only one plane in the world now the a380 has been born.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the photo you posted is the first one to show the scale of how far that cockpit dropped....
More a Police thing than an Air Accident Investigation maybe? 3 serious injuries, and more a 'road accident' than a plane crash- it wasn't really a plane, more a self powered moving surface transport device.
Quite a lot can be salvaged. Wouldn't expect much from the electronics bay, but engines and engine parts, APU, aircon packs, wing, tail, flight control units, flight control surfaces, doors, seats, windows, galleys, flight recorder. Quite lucky no serious fuel leak.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Brussels
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The French BEA has launched an investigation :
http://www.bea-fr.org/anglaise/actualite/actu.htm
http://www.bea-fr.org/anglaise/actualite/actu.htm
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 18,579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indeed, ato - an amazing accident. I am stunned that the injuries (although serious) are as light as reported and that no-one died. I wish all a speedy recovery.
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I think you'd droop a bit if you slammed into a concrete barrier nose first,
Wasn't this advertised as a run-up pan? Is that the same concrete barrier that's 1,200 feet from the main runway.Forget, it I give up.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And your point is? You have this thing about concrete barriers. Do you know, there are places where they have buildings beside roads? And walls next to roads! It doesn't mean you should necessarily drive into them, or that they should be removed and replaced with water filled plastic walls.
Pegase Driver
Join Date: May 1997
Location: Europe
Age: 74
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rumour running in TLS indicate a/c was taxiing away from area AFTER the tests, person fell in cockpit on the pedestal , All this in conditional.
Heard from the Fire brigade :
Electrics severed, so at least one engine continued to run for hours ( I heard 7h mentioned ) after the accident until ran out of fuel.
3 of the 10 injured are still in hospital, fractures and bruises but not life threatening .That at least is good news.
Heard from the Fire brigade :
Electrics severed, so at least one engine continued to run for hours ( I heard 7h mentioned ) after the accident until ran out of fuel.
3 of the 10 injured are still in hospital, fractures and bruises but not life threatening .That at least is good news.
In the above photograph(the one with the fire engine)is what appears to be a black stripe in the foreground and onto the wall.Is this evidence of an attempt at braking?Anti skid is deactivated at low speed so it may indicate a locked wheel.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: A Paddy in Paris
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by aroo
Was this story important enough to make the news in the UK? At least the "Europe" section of the bbc website say: Apparantly not.
Once again the airbuscentric press in this country; I should stop being so naive I suppose, the bbc after all do think there is only one plane in the world now the a380 has been born.
Once again the airbuscentric press in this country; I should stop being so naive I suppose, the bbc after all do think there is only one plane in the world now the a380 has been born.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7098547.stm
I think it even made front page on the day. Still listed in the Europe section too.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Closer than you think
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rumour running in TLS indicate a/c was taxiing away from area AFTER the tests
It's not a rumour according to this article.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London
Age: 38
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You mean like this?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7098547.stm
I think it even made front page on the day. Still listed in the Europe section too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7098547.stm
I think it even made front page on the day. Still listed in the Europe section too.
.....have been hearing people on the streets saying, well it seems obvious, but i feel i may have to point it put for you? that bbc love airbus. XXX
Last edited by aroo; 19th Nov 2007 at 22:17. Reason: add quote
Press cutting from the wires, for what it's worth
Toulouse accident occurred as Airbus A340 was exiting engine test-pen
Reuters, 20 November 2007
Airbus has told Etihad Airways that the A340-600 wrecked at Toulouse during pre-delivery checks had completed its engine test-runs and was exiting the test area at the time of the accident.
A spokesman for Etihad confirms that the aircraft has been written off.
Neither Airbus nor French investigation agency BEA has given further information about the circumstances of the accident.
But the Etihad spokesman says that Airbus has told the carrier that the engine test-run had already been completed beforehand, and that the A340 had been making its way out of the pen. The pen is located 500m southwest of a point lying about 1,000m along the length of Toulouse Blagnac Airport’s runway 32L.
The spokesman says: “The whole aircraft and its contents were insured by Airbus as the aircraft was operating under a temporary French registration [F-WWCJ] until 21 November when Etihad was set to have the aircraft delivered.”
But he says that the short-term impact on Etihad’s network arising from the loss of the aircraft is “not expected to be significant” because the A340 was initially due to act as a spare to cover heavy maintenance of the A340-600 fleet. Etihad has two of the type.
Toulouse accident occurred as Airbus A340 was exiting engine test-pen
Reuters, 20 November 2007
Airbus has told Etihad Airways that the A340-600 wrecked at Toulouse during pre-delivery checks had completed its engine test-runs and was exiting the test area at the time of the accident.
A spokesman for Etihad confirms that the aircraft has been written off.
Neither Airbus nor French investigation agency BEA has given further information about the circumstances of the accident.
But the Etihad spokesman says that Airbus has told the carrier that the engine test-run had already been completed beforehand, and that the A340 had been making its way out of the pen. The pen is located 500m southwest of a point lying about 1,000m along the length of Toulouse Blagnac Airport’s runway 32L.
The spokesman says: “The whole aircraft and its contents were insured by Airbus as the aircraft was operating under a temporary French registration [F-WWCJ] until 21 November when Etihad was set to have the aircraft delivered.”
But he says that the short-term impact on Etihad’s network arising from the loss of the aircraft is “not expected to be significant” because the A340 was initially due to act as a spare to cover heavy maintenance of the A340-600 fleet. Etihad has two of the type.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: ZSPD
Age: 56
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nigel, old boy, I think we've hit a bloody wall.
You don't say. I do believe it's time to get off.
Oh by the way, just keep that engine running, we could use the run data.
Pilots HAVE to see the humor in all things, else they wouldn't be pilots!
You don't say. I do believe it's time to get off.
Oh by the way, just keep that engine running, we could use the run data.
Pilots HAVE to see the humor in all things, else they wouldn't be pilots!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Stockport MAN/EGCC
Age: 70
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Serious A340-600 Question
I have seen the price £107 million quoted as the value of the hull.
How long does it take to actually build an A340-600?
When is the next vacant delivery slot?
Going to cost some loss of revenue refund I fear.
Why was it still at Tolouse first flown on 21 Sep 2007
Their first two c/n 829 F/F 4/5/2007 delivered 29/06/2007
c/n 837 F/F 1/8/2007 delivered 28/08/2007
Be lucky
David
How long does it take to actually build an A340-600?
When is the next vacant delivery slot?
Going to cost some loss of revenue refund I fear.
Why was it still at Tolouse first flown on 21 Sep 2007
Their first two c/n 829 F/F 4/5/2007 delivered 29/06/2007
c/n 837 F/F 1/8/2007 delivered 28/08/2007
Be lucky
David
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: France
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AvgasDinosaur,
How long is a piece of string?
You can say it ends with first flight, but where do you start?
With the arrival of the first section on the final assembly jigs?
With first metal being cut?
With the first purchase orders going out for long-lead items, that have the aircraft's number on it?
Work on some long-lead items may easily start a couple of years before.
How long does it take to actually build an A340-600?
You can say it ends with first flight, but where do you start?
With the arrival of the first section on the final assembly jigs?
With first metal being cut?
With the first purchase orders going out for long-lead items, that have the aircraft's number on it?
Work on some long-lead items may easily start a couple of years before.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sun, water, and lots of sand
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can't stop the engines!
An amazing thought had just crossed my mind. Imagine if the Iberia A340 runs off the end of the runway with full reverse thrust and the cockpit separates from the fuselage, as was the case in Toulouse.
This would certainly be a problem for evacuation, engines running with thrust both forward and aft direction and no way to stop them, as was the case in Toulouse. (they let the engine run the tank dry in order to stop).
Chances are good that they would suck up sand and dirt and stop, but the SAA flight, the engines were off the ground.
Food for thought!
A346 driver
This would certainly be a problem for evacuation, engines running with thrust both forward and aft direction and no way to stop them, as was the case in Toulouse. (they let the engine run the tank dry in order to stop).
Chances are good that they would suck up sand and dirt and stop, but the SAA flight, the engines were off the ground.
Food for thought!
A346 driver
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London
Age: 69
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wheelchair
We were there in Toulouse airport waiting for the 18.30 BA flight to arrive. The relief crew were standing around. Talking to one of them we were told the plane was delayed due to "no ground fire cover". All the the commercial side fire trucks had gone across the runways to the A340 which was at a 30 degree angle opposite the windows to our departure lounge. Question, what fire cover does Toulouse have such that all the domestic side crews are required for a single incident on the production side of the airport?