Heathrow closed : 16:30hrs 12 July '13 - [Empty plane fire, parked Ethiopian B787]
Jul 19, 2013, 4:46 pm
#256
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK oop north
Programs: BMI Diamond Club RIP,BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,692
I do hope that commercial interests don't prevent another grounding. If this is a systemic problem the result could otherwise be another Swissair 111 god forbid.
Jul 19, 2013, 9:39 pm
#257
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
Wall Street Journal reporting about FAA inspections:
As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that it will mandate inspections of the devices in coming days, the agency laid out what investigators apparently consider to be the prime suspects behind the blaze that occurred at London Heathrow Airport: Airlines were told to look for "proper wire routing and any sign of wire damage or pinching," referring to the connections between the transmitters, or ELTs, and the lithium batteries that power them. In addition, an FAA statement said inspections should look for unusual signs of heating or moisture inside battery compartments.
Apparently, the battery is not contained within the transmitter, but is connected to it by wiring that could be compromised?
As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that it will mandate inspections of the devices in coming days, the agency laid out what investigators apparently consider to be the prime suspects behind the blaze that occurred at London Heathrow Airport: Airlines were told to look for "proper wire routing and any sign of wire damage or pinching," referring to the connections between the transmitters, or ELTs, and the lithium batteries that power them. In addition, an FAA statement said inspections should look for unusual signs of heating or moisture inside battery compartments.
Apparently, the battery is not contained within the transmitter, but is connected to it by wiring that could be compromised?
Jul 20, 2013, 1:24 pm
#258
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
Programs: BAEC, FB, QANTAS, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, AVIS Preferred, MRAeS
Posts: 813
Wall Street Journal reporting about FAA inspections:
As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that it will mandate inspections of the devices in coming days, the agency laid out what investigators apparently consider to be the prime suspects behind the blaze that occurred at London Heathrow Airport: Airlines were told to look for "proper wire routing and any sign of wire damage or pinching," referring to the connections between the transmitters, or ELTs, and the lithium batteries that power them. In addition, an FAA statement said inspections should look for unusual signs of heating or moisture inside battery compartments.
Apparently, the battery is not contained within the transmitter, but is connected to it by wiring that could be compromised?
As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that it will mandate inspections of the devices in coming days, the agency laid out what investigators apparently consider to be the prime suspects behind the blaze that occurred at London Heathrow Airport: Airlines were told to look for "proper wire routing and any sign of wire damage or pinching," referring to the connections between the transmitters, or ELTs, and the lithium batteries that power them. In addition, an FAA statement said inspections should look for unusual signs of heating or moisture inside battery compartments.
Apparently, the battery is not contained within the transmitter, but is connected to it by wiring that could be compromised?
I'm generalising here but they are mostly a complete unit with possibly connections for external GPS and transmitter aerials, test and or programming plugs. May also be able to connect to aircraft data bus too???
I believe ANA inspected all theirs with no problems. Wouldn't surprise me if all users had had a quick check.
Jul 29, 2013, 1:16 am
#260
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
Programs: BAEC, FB, QANTAS, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, AVIS Preferred, MRAeS
Posts: 813
Thought this would be of interest.
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2013-0168
EDIT: See Also
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/7848e4f089b443ec86257bb40048d733/$FILE/2013-15-07.pdf
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2013-0168
EDIT: See Also
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/7848e4f089b443ec86257bb40048d733/$FILE/2013-15-07.pdf
Last edited by vibrex; Jul 29, 2013 at 2:32 pm Reason: Added Second Link
Jul 29, 2013, 1:54 am
#261
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,158
I believe that statement to be incorrect. See here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...97356924.html#
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...97356924.html#
Jul 29, 2013, 4:28 am
#262
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
Programs: BAEC, FB, QANTAS, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, AVIS Preferred, MRAeS
Posts: 813
I believe that statement to be incorrect. See here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...97356924.html#
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...97356924.html#
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/bu...lems.html?_r=0
Looks like they just did an external visual. It now appears since then that faults have been found.
Last edited by vibrex; Jul 29, 2013 at 4:47 am Reason: added link
Jul 29, 2013, 4:31 am
#263
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 775
A colleague of mine was delayed in DOH last week due to an apparent fire with the QR Dreamliner that effectively closed the airfield. He says it was at the runway holding point. I know the Middle East countries are rather closed when it comes to free speech/journalism. Anyone heard anything about it on the net?
Jul 29, 2013, 4:48 am
#264
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
Programs: BAEC, FB, QANTAS, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, AVIS Preferred, MRAeS
Posts: 813
A colleague of mine was delayed in DOH last week due to an apparent fire with the QR Dreamliner that effectively closed the airfield. He says it was at the runway holding point. I know the Middle East countries are rather closed when it comes to free speech/journalism. Anyone heard anything about it on the net?
Jul 29, 2013, 4:49 am
#265
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
A colleague of mine was delayed in DOH last week due to an apparent fire with the QR Dreamliner that effectively closed the airfield. He says it was at the runway holding point. I know the Middle East countries are rather closed when it comes to free speech/journalism. Anyone heard anything about it on the net?
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/5...787-smoke.html
Jul 29, 2013, 6:04 am
#266
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,164
A little OT but related on a Lithium-ion battery note. The Final Report into UPS6 in DXB has been released by the GCAA.
http://www.prba.org/wp-content/uploa...4AF-N571UP.pdf
Of interest to passengers perhaps is the following recommendation.
Perhaps new rules will be rolled out to enhance safety.
http://www.prba.org/wp-content/uploa...4AF-N571UP.pdf
Of interest to passengers perhaps is the following recommendation.
4.27 SR 51/2013: ICAO to review the hazardous materials classification for Class 9 materials packaging where the reconsideration of lithium batteries and other energy storage devices that are currently classified as a Class 9 hazardous material be subjected to a higher level of hazardous material classification as at present time, it is not clear that the current Class 9 hazard communication or quantity limits adequately reflect the inherent risks to aviation safety.
Aug 16, 2013, 2:17 pm
#267
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
Programs: BAEC, FB, QANTAS, IHG, Hilton, Marriott, AVIS Preferred, MRAeS
Posts: 813
Looks like there is definite concern over Honeywell ELT's fitted to other Aircraft now.
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/CF-2013-25
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/CF-2013-25
Aug 21, 2013, 5:18 am
#268
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, BD Blue (RIP)
Posts: 1,977
Just a quick update on where we stand with our service recovery and BA.
One thing I didn't mention (which turned into one of the main issues) was that we called BA the following morning to ask if there was someone she could nebulise (we'd checked in the nebuliser since it weighs a tonne, in retrospect this was a poor decision). The person at the call centre checked with their supervisor and told us to go to the medical centre near Terminal 3 where nebulisation would be possible (we had the nebulising fluid but not the machine). We arrived at Terminal 3 around 2pm to be told that 'the medical centre closed 8 years ago' and that 'the call centre wouldn't know since it was far away'.
We sent a letter in a few weeks ago detailing the whole sorry saga (and CC'd it to Frank and Keith Williams) and got a call back today from a BA 'senior service recovery person' who said they were still compiling all the information for a proper response but could confirm that the call centre had the wrong information on this in their system (which is a tad worrying) and consequently they're carrying out an audit of the whole system. They're also fairly concerned about a few of the issues I noted previously. FvdP's office is also involved.
No proper response yet but I'm impressed with how seriously they seem to be taking this. I'll keep you posted
One thing I didn't mention (which turned into one of the main issues) was that we called BA the following morning to ask if there was someone she could nebulise (we'd checked in the nebuliser since it weighs a tonne, in retrospect this was a poor decision). The person at the call centre checked with their supervisor and told us to go to the medical centre near Terminal 3 where nebulisation would be possible (we had the nebulising fluid but not the machine). We arrived at Terminal 3 around 2pm to be told that 'the medical centre closed 8 years ago' and that 'the call centre wouldn't know since it was far away'.
We sent a letter in a few weeks ago detailing the whole sorry saga (and CC'd it to Frank and Keith Williams) and got a call back today from a BA 'senior service recovery person' who said they were still compiling all the information for a proper response but could confirm that the call centre had the wrong information on this in their system (which is a tad worrying) and consequently they're carrying out an audit of the whole system. They're also fairly concerned about a few of the issues I noted previously. FvdP's office is also involved.
No proper response yet but I'm impressed with how seriously they seem to be taking this. I'll keep you posted
Aug 21, 2013, 11:29 am
#269
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945