Missing Winglet on an Airbus?
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Missing Winglet on an Airbus?
I flew last night on an Airbus type on a UK domestic flight. The aircraft had one winglet; the other wing had the winglet removed with what appeared to be gaffer tape covering where the winglet should have been attached.
Can an aircraft be dispatched with this defect for unlimited flying ? And does it have any performance impact on the aircraft operation?
Can an aircraft be dispatched with this defect for unlimited flying ? And does it have any performance impact on the aircraft operation?
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Trawling through my old (10yrs) copy of the CDL/MEL manual, for an A321 the following penalties apply for a single missing wingtip fence:
T/O and approach limiting weights reduced by 8910kgs
One engine inop ceiling reduced by 735ft
Fuel consumption penalty +1.34%
HTH
T/O and approach limiting weights reduced by 8910kgs
One engine inop ceiling reduced by 735ft
Fuel consumption penalty +1.34%
HTH
Can an aircraft be dispatched with this defect for unlimited flying ? And does it have any performance impact on the aircraft operation?
But when Aer Lingus had an A333 wingtip knocked off at SFO just over a year ago (by a tug driver), they positioned the aircraft back to DUB empty.
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A two-manned fossil fueled Rutan aircraft ground off one of those upturned wing ends during the takeoff roll of its flight once around the planet...all without stopping or refueling along the way.
Not uncommon - the 747-400 CDL allows dispatch without one (or both) winglets. Again, small performance penalty.
I don't know about the 737 winglets (didn't spend much time working the 737), and the 757 and 767 winglets are aftermarket STC so I don't know about those either.
I don't know about the 737 winglets (didn't spend much time working the 737), and the 757 and 767 winglets are aftermarket STC so I don't know about those either.
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High Speed Tape or HST. Approved by all Aircraft manufacturers for temporary repairs of this kind. Not 'gaffer' tape, whatever that is.
Not uncommon - the 747-400 CDL allows dispatch without one (or both) winglets. Again, small performance penalty.
I don't know about the 737 winglets (didn't spend much time working the 737), and the 757 and 767 winglets are aftermarket STC so I don't know about those either.
I don't know about the 737 winglets (didn't spend much time working the 737), and the 757 and 767 winglets are aftermarket STC so I don't know about those either.
It’s been a while while but I’m fairly sure that the CDL only allows 1 Winglet removed on the 744.
It may not be in the CDL (been a while for me as well) but I know there is a way to dispatch with them both missing on a 747-400. It might be a service bulletin rather than CDL.
Only half a speed-brake
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C'mon, folks!
Duct tape - because it was first used for sealing HVAC duct seams. I've never had to seal a duck.....however, one brand uses Duck as a registered brand name/logo (cute, hunh?).
Gaffer tape - very similar, used by gaffers (lighting technicians) to make repairs, reinforcements or temporary hold-downs on movie or stage sets
HST or Speed Tape - also similar, but with a stronger adhesive that won't (ideally) flap loose under the stress of the slipstream, and is more resistant to solvents like hydrocarbon fuels or oils.
Duct tape - because it was first used for sealing HVAC duct seams. I've never had to seal a duck.....however, one brand uses Duck as a registered brand name/logo (cute, hunh?).
Gaffer tape - very similar, used by gaffers (lighting technicians) to make repairs, reinforcements or temporary hold-downs on movie or stage sets
HST or Speed Tape - also similar, but with a stronger adhesive that won't (ideally) flap loose under the stress of the slipstream, and is more resistant to solvents like hydrocarbon fuels or oils.
My Dad was enroute from Brize Norton to the Falklands in 2013, and as the A330 taxied in at Ascension, it somehow ended up with a winglet jammed underneath the wing of another aircraft.
After some delay and discussion, I think the solution they came to was to keep the passengers onboard (presumably to keep the landing gear as loaded as possible), and refuel the wings asymetrically to lower the jammed tip to where they could move it clear. Then they removed the damaged winglet, and carried on South. The whole operation at Asi caused a delay of about 8 or 9 hours.
After some delay and discussion, I think the solution they came to was to keep the passengers onboard (presumably to keep the landing gear as loaded as possible), and refuel the wings asymetrically to lower the jammed tip to where they could move it clear. Then they removed the damaged winglet, and carried on South. The whole operation at Asi caused a delay of about 8 or 9 hours.
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C'mon, folks!
Duct tape - because it was first used for sealing HVAC duct seams. I've never had to seal a duck.....however, one brand uses Duck as a registered brand name/logo (cute, hunh?).
Gaffer tape - very similar, used by gaffers (lighting technicians) to make repairs, reinforcements or temporary hold-downs on movie or stage sets
HST or Speed Tape - also similar, but with a stronger adhesive that won't (ideally) flap loose under the stress of the slipstream, and is more resistant to solvents like hydrocarbon fuels or oils.
Duct tape - because it was first used for sealing HVAC duct seams. I've never had to seal a duck.....however, one brand uses Duck as a registered brand name/logo (cute, hunh?).
Gaffer tape - very similar, used by gaffers (lighting technicians) to make repairs, reinforcements or temporary hold-downs on movie or stage sets
HST or Speed Tape - also similar, but with a stronger adhesive that won't (ideally) flap loose under the stress of the slipstream, and is more resistant to solvents like hydrocarbon fuels or oils.