elCheapoDeluxe
Aug 28, 07, 11:22 pm
U.S., Canada Place Curbs on Use of Some Bombardier CRJ Jets
By ANDY PASZTOR
August 29, 2007; Page A9
Increasingly frequent instances of stuck or improperly operating flaps on Bombardier CRJ 100, 200 and 440 jets have prompted safety mandates on both sides of the border after a decade of concern and remedial actions. Flaps are movable panels at the rear of the wing that are extended for additional lift during takeoffs and landings. No fatal accidents have been attributed to flap defects.
and
The new rules include everything from acceptable runway conditions and requirements for carrying extra fuel to detailed procedures for testing or replacing parts that control the flaps. If flaps don't work, a plane must be able to stay lower than 15,000 feet to get to an alternative airport. Since extreme cold can prevent the devices from moving, the FAA has even identified a minimum temperature range at cruise altitude -- minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit) -- below which the planes routinely aren't authorized to fly when their destination runway requires use of flaps because it is slippery.
I have to say, I hope this leads to more CRJ's being replaced with comfortable new EMB-170's in the long run...
Link (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118834829788011716.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news)
By ANDY PASZTOR
August 29, 2007; Page A9
Increasingly frequent instances of stuck or improperly operating flaps on Bombardier CRJ 100, 200 and 440 jets have prompted safety mandates on both sides of the border after a decade of concern and remedial actions. Flaps are movable panels at the rear of the wing that are extended for additional lift during takeoffs and landings. No fatal accidents have been attributed to flap defects.
and
The new rules include everything from acceptable runway conditions and requirements for carrying extra fuel to detailed procedures for testing or replacing parts that control the flaps. If flaps don't work, a plane must be able to stay lower than 15,000 feet to get to an alternative airport. Since extreme cold can prevent the devices from moving, the FAA has even identified a minimum temperature range at cruise altitude -- minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit) -- below which the planes routinely aren't authorized to fly when their destination runway requires use of flaps because it is slippery.
I have to say, I hope this leads to more CRJ's being replaced with comfortable new EMB-170's in the long run...
Link (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118834829788011716.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news)