Has Aer Lingus replaced Pitot Tubes on its A330's and A320's ?

m_stan

This has been raised elsewhere, but deserves its own thread.

Has Aer Lingus replaced Pitot Tubes on its A330's and A320's ???

From CNN:

Another Air France pilots' union, ALTER, has advised its pilots not to fly planes until their Pitot tubes are replaced. ALTER, the smallest of three Air France pilots' unions, would not say what percentage of the carrier's pilots it represents.

So what is the situation with Aer Lingus?

note: I realise the pitot tubes theory in relation to flight 447 is pure speculation at this point, but the question is one which is worth asking and Aer Lingus, along with the other users of these aircraft, should be making their status and intentions very clear to the flying public.

punchdrunk

I'd be astonished if they have

Plane Mad

There are only two planes in Aer Lingus fleet that have them and they will be changed by the end of the week

Celtic Mech

Plane Mad wrote: »

There are only two planes in Aer Lingus fleet that have them and they will be changed by the end of the week

The 2 A330's will be done by Friday. The remainder of A320 will be done as soon as parts arrive.

CaptainSkidmark

bramble is the man to ask lol

What is a pilot tube anyway?

highlydebased

dingding

What does it do?

Steyr

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

bramble is the man to ask lol

What is a pilot tube anyway?

A "Pitot" is used to determine the Airspeed of an Aircraft.

Steyr

dingding wrote: »

What does it do?

Just in before my post! See above.:)

pclancy

Have Airbus actually upgraded the urgency of the upgrades or were they going to happen anyway and the airlines have done it for good PR?

BrianD

m_stan wrote: »

note: I realise the pitot tubes theory in relation to flight 447 is pure speculation at this point, but the question is one which is worth asking and Aer Lingus, along with the other users of these aircraft, should be making their status and intentions very clear to the flying public.

Airlines get dozens of technical and service bulletins every year so it wouldn't be in the flying publics interest to be updated. I am sure there are many bulletins that the public might find quite alarming if they were aware of them and even more alarming if they knew that the action recommended might only occur at the next scheduled service.

The pitot tubes issue is only speculation and is not preventing 100's of other flights operating safely using the same aircraft. Plus, many of these parts can be made by a single manufacturer. In otherwords, pitot tubes could be made by a single manufacturer for many different aircraft makes and models.

joey54

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this question but how often are planes serviced? They really are amazing pieces of machinery!

Tenger

Deleted at Tengers request by Mod

m_stan

Great info and insight from all here as usual. I am glad to hear this issue is being addressed so quickly by Aer Lingus. I'm on one of these birds on Monday so it'll make my 10hr flight all the more comfortable to know this has been done by then

diverdriver

I'd say the Pitot tube thing is a red herring. No one really knows what happened to that flight yet. There is a lot of nonsense being talked at the moment. Don't worry about your flight.

As BrianD says keeping the public up to date on the status of service bulletins or even airworthiness directives wouldn't be comforting to them.:eek: After years in the business you realise that it's sometimes hard to keep track of every change, no matter how good your paper trail is.

I'm completely at one with Bramble's thoughts on this issue. It is remarkable just how reliable aircraft are, considering the complexity and the hostile operating environment they operate in. It's a thought that crosses my mind sometimes as I prepare to launch myself and a number of innocent punters into the ether.

It's fair to say that it is in no small part due to the good work of Aircraft Engineers. You don't find too many lazy or slapdash Engineers in aviation or at least they don't last long. They are the essential cog that keeps flying safe and are often unappreciated.

Someone asked how a pitot worked. Simply saying it determines the airspeed of the aircraft is a bit simplistic. Airspeed is determined by comparing pressures. Air flowing into the pitot tube at speed produces pressure, dynamic pressure. There is another device called a static port. This can actually be part of the pitot tube or separate but it simply measures static pressure. Basically a barometer The airspeed indicator is calibrated to work out the difference between the static and dynamic pressure.

If the pitot become blocked the airspeed indicator will only indicate static pressure. So if the aircraft climbs, speed appears to increase, if it descends airspeed seems to decrease. This has led to at least one airline crash. Hence the importance of reliable pitots.

joey54

I have no knowledge of airplanes at all but like a previous poster I wouldn't be 100% convinced that it was simple the pitot tubes which caused the accident.

Hopefully answers can be found, especially for the families and friends who have lost loved ones and also to restore peoples confidence in the airbus. Accidents happen with planes but I remember being told that statistically you were more likely to be involved in a car accident than a plane crash. Makes sense really.

Run_to_da_hills

According to this article in the Herald Aer Lingus has finally replaced all its rogue pitot tubes.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/aer-lingus-replaces-speed-sensors-linked-to-air-france-crash-1796024.html

cyrusdvirus

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

According to this article in the Herald Aer Lingus has finally replaced all its rogue pitot tubes.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/aer-lingus-replaces-speed-sensors-linked-to-air-france-crash-1796024.html

Do you not think you are being a bit sensationalist there? 'Finally' and 'rogue'

There is still no proof that 447 came down as a result of anything to do with the Pitot Tubes. And considering there probably has been a world wide rush on these components since June 1st, just under 4 weeks turnaround is fairly quick in my book.