A350 Fuselage coating cracks
At least five other airlines are affected.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...lf-2021-11-29/
https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...lf-2021-11-29/
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Airbus to seek independent legal assessment
Tired of "ongoing mischaracterisation of the non-structural surface degradation" and having "proposed solutions dismissed"...
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...in-response-to
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...in-response-to
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What does Airbus mean by the phrase, "independent legal assessment"?
Is it something other than legal steps to be taken by attorneys advising and/or representing Airbus - and if so, what exactly is it? Example of former: letter from legal counsel demanding that customer "cease and desist" from objectionable conduct (and credibly threatening legal recourse such as lawsuit or invoking contractual terms unfavorable to customer). Example of other: __?__
Inquiring SLF/attorney wants to know.
Is it something other than legal steps to be taken by attorneys advising and/or representing Airbus - and if so, what exactly is it? Example of former: letter from legal counsel demanding that customer "cease and desist" from objectionable conduct (and credibly threatening legal recourse such as lawsuit or invoking contractual terms unfavorable to customer). Example of other: __?__
Inquiring SLF/attorney wants to know.
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The above-cited Reuters article contains pictures of the alleged defects - which are characterized as cracks that reveal the aircraft's lightning protection mesh covering. Airbus claims that this is not an air-worthiness issue - but is simply cosmetic. Perhaps the "legal assessment" is looking into possible legal action against Qatar for continuing to alleged the aircraft are not airworthy? Action for slander? That's this lawyer's guess.
Cosmetic defect sure looks bad.
Cosmetic defect sure looks bad.
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Qatar to ground some further A350's
In an interview with Washington Post, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said that the European plane maker had destroyed its business relationship with the carrier and it would be difficult to repair the frayed relationship with Airbus. “We can always let the water pass under the bridge and move on,” Al Baker said. “With Airbus, the damage is very severe. I don’t know how we will be able to work with them again,” he added.
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two are now in a dispute over paint and surface defects on the jets, forcing the Qatari carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s. The airline had said it has paused A350 deliveries and is planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to back up the A350s that were withdrawn from service. At least four Boeing 777s will come from Cathay Pacific Airways.
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two are now in a dispute over paint and surface defects on the jets, forcing the Qatari carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s. The airline had said it has paused A350 deliveries and is planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to back up the A350s that were withdrawn from service. At least four Boeing 777s will come from Cathay Pacific Airways.
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So he can't imagine ever working with Airbus again. I'm fairly sure there will not be many tears shed in Toulouse if this is the last they see of this clown.
And the only viable competitor isn't able to deliver any 787 and has major issues getting it's rehashed 777 done on time. Yep, great position you've maneuvered yourself in, Akbar
And the only viable competitor isn't able to deliver any 787 and has major issues getting it's rehashed 777 done on time. Yep, great position you've maneuvered yourself in, Akbar
This might even save the 777X.
In an interview with Washington Post, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said that the European plane maker had destroyed its business relationship with the carrier and it would be difficult to repair the frayed relationship with Airbus. “We can always let the water pass under the bridge and move on,” Al Baker said. “With Airbus, the damage is very severe. I don’t know how we will be able to work with them again,” he added.
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two are now in a dispute over paint and surface defects on the jets, forcing the Qatari carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s. The airline had said it has paused A350 deliveries and is planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to back up the A350s that were withdrawn from service. At least four Boeing 777s will come from Cathay Pacific Airways.
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two are now in a dispute over paint and surface defects on the jets, forcing the Qatari carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s. The airline had said it has paused A350 deliveries and is planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to back up the A350s that were withdrawn from service. At least four Boeing 777s will come from Cathay Pacific Airways.
I'd say the more noisy this gets the more expensive his deals will be, be it A or B.
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Tears in Toulouse
Given the current backlog situation for A & B, I guess A won't be displeased to get rid of such a customer that is more a pain in the a.. than something else.
And B will be quite pleased to overcharge him to get him the slots he wants (ASAP as usual until he nitpicks on meaningless details on each A/C to be delivered).
And B will be quite pleased to overcharge him to get him the slots he wants (ASAP as usual until he nitpicks on meaningless details on each A/C to be delivered).
I do find it surprising that this issue comes up now, The first A350 flew in early 2013, and of course had extensive testing. Qatar Airways actually had the first delivery, built and delivered at the end of 2014. That's 7 years ago, since when they have been in daily use. Surely such an issue would have arisen before now, and to the prototype more than any other. Some aircraft will have been sold on, and gone through a strip and repaint, and no longer have the original manufacturer's application. Have the earlier Qatar aircraft had a periodic repaint in their time ?
I don't think stripping and repainting is the issue, except that the problem with cracks in the CFRP (see the very first post) appears to have been discovered when the aircraft in question was stripped for a repaint in January (and has not flown since).
It has flown to Toulouse.
You miss the point that the flight proves that the damage is cosmetic.
Um, does it?
The flight demonstrates that the manufacturer thought
a) the damage did not threaten the safety of the airframe for a non-revenue flight
b) the damage warranted further work at HQ, rather than minor treatment in the field
Whatever remedial work is done by Airbus may demonstrate the nature of the failure, I don't THINK the flight itself does.
I did like your comment, very much, though.
The flight demonstrates that the manufacturer thought
a) the damage did not threaten the safety of the airframe for a non-revenue flight
b) the damage warranted further work at HQ, rather than minor treatment in the field
Whatever remedial work is done by Airbus may demonstrate the nature of the failure, I don't THINK the flight itself does.
I did like your comment, very much, though.
In the game of pedantry top trumps, ladies and gentleberries, WE HAVE A WINNER
Chapeau!
Chapeau!
