Qantas Reviewing Operation of Airbus A380 Planes
- 13 years ago
Australian airline Qantas is conducting an investigation on how it runs its Airbus A380 jets. Last week, one of the carrier's six jets experienced engine failure over Indonesia, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Singapore.
Australian carrier Qantas is reviewing the way it runs its A380 jets, amid reports it pushed their Rolls-Royce engines harder than other airlines.
According to the Australian newspaper, Qantas operates its A380 engines at higher thrust levels, which could result in vibrations that cause oil lines to crack.
The daily says unlike carriers like Singapore Airlines, Qantas uses a higher maximum thrust setting, for some take-offs on long-haul routes between Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne.
But the thrust setting of 72,000 pounds is still 3,000 pounds below the engine's design limits.
An airline source said Tuesday, engine operations was part of a wider review, after last week's engine failure over Indonesia, which forced a Sydney-bound A380 to make an emergency landing in Singapore.
Qantas grounded its six A380 aircraft till at least Thursday as investigations continue.
Qantas earlier said an engine design flaw could be to blame, and that it was investigating oil leaks that may have caused the engine explosion.
In separate developments, Japanese low-cost carrier Skymark Airlines said it would buy up to six A380 planes worth as much as $2.1 billion.
The purchase would make Skymark the first Japanese airline to buy the super jumbo.
Shares of Skymark plunged 15 percent, amid worries about funding, and operational costs.
Japan's third largest carrier plans to use the A380s on international routes from March 2015.
Australian carrier Qantas is reviewing the way it runs its A380 jets, amid reports it pushed their Rolls-Royce engines harder than other airlines.
According to the Australian newspaper, Qantas operates its A380 engines at higher thrust levels, which could result in vibrations that cause oil lines to crack.
The daily says unlike carriers like Singapore Airlines, Qantas uses a higher maximum thrust setting, for some take-offs on long-haul routes between Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne.
But the thrust setting of 72,000 pounds is still 3,000 pounds below the engine's design limits.
An airline source said Tuesday, engine operations was part of a wider review, after last week's engine failure over Indonesia, which forced a Sydney-bound A380 to make an emergency landing in Singapore.
Qantas grounded its six A380 aircraft till at least Thursday as investigations continue.
Qantas earlier said an engine design flaw could be to blame, and that it was investigating oil leaks that may have caused the engine explosion.
In separate developments, Japanese low-cost carrier Skymark Airlines said it would buy up to six A380 planes worth as much as $2.1 billion.
The purchase would make Skymark the first Japanese airline to buy the super jumbo.
Shares of Skymark plunged 15 percent, amid worries about funding, and operational costs.
Japan's third largest carrier plans to use the A380s on international routes from March 2015.