AF447: report out, surprise from Airbus, Air France defensive

That's a concept that has got a lot of airtime since the A330 crash but there are practical and cost arguments against it. However, satcoms are becoming cheaper and it's no longer out of the question. Whether it's worth it is a debatable point. These guys in Canada have been energetically promoting the idea. And my colleague David Learmount wrote about it here. Personally I suspect we might see it being used on oceanic routes because of the recovery issues thrown up by AF447 but I doubt it could be justified over land. Full text of the press release below.

Second development this evening is a press release from Air France which says two things: first that the black boxes must be found at all costs, and second that, once again, the airline considers that it wasn't at fault over the pitot tube issue and in fact acted to fix it despite a) nobody suggesting that replacment tubes would cure the icing problem and b) they didn't have to. Again full text below.

Finally, the French BEA have frankly irritatingly just now released the actual report which runs to 128 pages in French. Update: apologies - it's also in English, or it is now anyway.


Airbus press release

Airbus launches initiative to reinforce flight data recovery capability

Airbus to involve all stakeholders

 

Airbus has launched a study for reinforcing flight data recovery, including, but not limited to, extended data transmission for commercial airliners, so that in the event of accidents, critical flight information can still be recovered and released to the investigating authorities.

 

Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus commented: "Gathering information from accidents is vitally important to further improve the safety of flying. Various technical means for reinforcing flight data recovery and data transmission to ground centres are principally available. We will now study different options for viable commercial solutions, including those where our experience with real-time data transmission from our own test aircraft could support the further development of such solutions."

 

The study will be conducted by Patrick Gavin, Head of Airbus Engineering, and Charles Champion, Head of Customer Services, and will need to address technological issues as well as data protection and privacy concerns. Airbus will include industrial partners, research institutions, and international airworthiness and investigation authorities in this study.

 

* * *

Air France press release

AF 447: Progress Report from the French Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA)

 

 

Air France has taken careful note of the progress report published by the French Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA) concerning the AF 447 accident. In presenting the initial facts, this report constitutes an important stage in the inquiry.

 

It is also a very important step for the relatives of the victims, who, like Air France, are impatient to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.

 

It is, of course, of capital importance for Air France to find the flight and voice recorders - "black boxes" - which would enable the investigators to analyse the causes of the accident, whatever these may be. No effort must be spared in achieving this end, and Air France thanks the French Authorities for continuing their sea search with unprecedented resources. Air France would also like to thank the Brazilian authorities for the searches they have carried out at the scene of the accident.

 

All the elements of the investigation produced by the French Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA) will be fully and immediately taken into account by the airline. Flight safety is of prime concern to Air France, as can be seen from the ongoing efforts of every sector of the airline using all its resources to improve it even further.

 

Following the publication of the progress report, Air France wishes to point out that:

 

-          In Airbus' recommendation of November 2008, superseding that of September 2007, the replacement of the Thalès AA Pitot probes by Thalès BA Pitot probes was no longer put forward as a solution to the icing problems.

-          On 15 April 2009, Airbus recommended evaluating in real operating conditions the results of a series of laboratory tests on the Thalès BA Pitot probes.

-          On 27 April 2009, rather than waiting for the results of this evaluation, Air France decided to equip its entire fleet of Airbus A330s and A340s with the Thalès BA Pitot probes.

 

Air France is, of course, continuing to cooperate fully with the Authorities, and reiterates its commitment to total transparency with regard to the investigators, its passengers and the general public.