Originally Posted by
MikeMpls
I doubt it. Go to
http://dlsucks.blogspot.com, find my postings on the speed pitot problem, skip what I wrote & read all the articles that I've linked to.
The standard speed pitots on Airbus aircraft has been the Goodrich unit, which has now been ordered as the replacement for Thales units, both original & already replaced. If my memory is correct, 80% of the speed pitots as delivered from the factory have been the Goodrich units; Thales units were only installed at the customers' request and were on about 20% of the deliveries.
Both 767s & 777s are currently the target of safety directives, including a fuel icing problem that caused the loss of a BA 777 at Heathrow.
Image is everything - and now Airbus' image is tarnished in the public eye yet again. Either Airbus is going to have to sweeten some deals (or add to their usual bribes) to keep orders or they run the risk of losing out - as news of this issue spreads, there will be plenty of people worldwide who will be calling to switch flights or airlines to avoid Airbus jets, and some airlines will be taking note of this.
Yes, Boeing has had its share of issues, but there is a big difference between airworthiness directives that are generally only privy to industry insiders, and having your dirty laundry splashed across the news for months. Whenever Airbus has a significant issue, it seems to always come back to the level of automation and systems design on their aircraft - too many computers doing too many things for the aviator who should be more 'in the loop' when it comes to controlling the aircraft. The infamous A320 air show crash should have been their wake-up call to dial back all the computer crap, but they just keep ignoring the risks.
Where is the redundant old-school pitot tube/analog airspeed indicator from a different source with the ability for the pilot to take total control of the ship and fly it based on the information from the redundant system?
It would be nice if an Airbus rated crew member could join the thread and offer some input on the operational changes to mitigate this risk.