WN Emergency landing in Yuma
Apr 3, 2011, 3:56 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Apr 3, 2011, 4:14 pm
#77
Join Date: Apr 2005
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It does look like the tear was confined to a single "bay" in the structure. The skin is bonded to stringers so that a tear will hit one of them, turn 90 degrees and form a flap that limits the size of the hole. This prevents a catastrophic destruction like the Aloha flight. In that case, corrosion and cracks caused the skin to separate from the stringers allowing the whole top of the aircraft to blow off.
Apr 3, 2011, 4:58 pm
#78
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I once heard a Southwest Airlines flight attendant say "Should there be a sudden change in cabin pressure, I would not have come to work today..." during the safety demo on a flight. I think it's time for this joke to be retired. On another note, job very well done to the pilots on WN812!
Apr 3, 2011, 5:32 pm
#79
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And now there is confirmation the cause was (surprise) metal fatigue.
"Investigators said the rip began where two outer panels were riveted together, and that the area around it showed evidence of pre-existing cracking due to fatigue."
"We did find evidence of widespread cracking across this entire fracture surface," National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt told reporters. Link to BBC article.
"Investigators said the rip began where two outer panels were riveted together, and that the area around it showed evidence of pre-existing cracking due to fatigue."
"We did find evidence of widespread cracking across this entire fracture surface," National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt told reporters. Link to BBC article.
According to NPR, FAA maintenance records indicate at least eight instances of cracking in this aircraft's frame which were repaired in March 2010.
Apr 3, 2011, 8:49 pm
#80
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El Salvador? You have GOT to be kidding.
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Last edited by ftnoob; Apr 3, 2011 at 10:26 pm Reason: Copyrighted material rule
Apr 3, 2011, 10:04 pm
#81
Join Date: Jan 2011
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I'll offer a controversial statement. This is a step that Southwest is forced to take since their labor costs are no longer competitive to marketplace. Pilot salaries in particular are above today's curve.
Last edited by ftnoob; Apr 3, 2011 at 10:27 pm Reason: remove quoted deleted content
Apr 3, 2011, 10:29 pm
#82
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http://www.eturbonews.com/10002/flig...thwest-workers
"Dallas-based Southwest planned a year ago to send planes to El Salvador for maintenance work. It postponed the idea, however, after getting hit with $7.5 million in safety penalties for flying planes that hadn't been.. "
Apr 3, 2011, 10:29 pm
#83
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Here the CNN news:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/03...ex.html?hpt=T1
Might you want to read whole news article from CNN. Thanks Guys!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/03...ex.html?hpt=T1
Might you want to read whole news article from CNN. Thanks Guys!
Apr 4, 2011, 8:22 am
#84
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Thankfully, everyone will be OK and they are addressing the issues now. Those older planes are getting scary to fly in. The seats never stay up (always recline without pressing the button) and the other thing I have seen is TSA tape holding stuff up/together.
At least it got everyone's mind off being upset about 2.0...
At least it got everyone's mind off being upset about 2.0...
Apr 4, 2011, 8:23 am
#85
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With the AirTran merger supposedly growing the airline by one-fifth, then the threshold for "relatively few" will go up to at least 360 cancellations and 1200 delays. That should ease our concerns about customer service even more.
Apr 4, 2011, 8:39 am
#87
Moderator, Southwest Airlines and Choice Privileges
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Used to be true; now their pilot productivity is at or near the bottom by almost any measure.
Piloting WN flights is probably more demanding than average (more takeoffs and landings), so comparably experienced SWA pilots should earn more. Over time, however, WN flights have grown longer while their pilot and FA expenses have exploded. Whoever approved those contracts on management's side really hamstrung today's version of the company.
Piloting WN flights is probably more demanding than average (more takeoffs and landings), so comparably experienced SWA pilots should earn more. Over time, however, WN flights have grown longer while their pilot and FA expenses have exploded. Whoever approved those contracts on management's side really hamstrung today's version of the company.
Apr 4, 2011, 9:23 am
#88
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Apr 4, 2011, 10:06 am
#89
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Thank you, Brian for the information. But now I am concerned that that this test can be done on 60-odd planes in two days -- and that it hadn't already been done as a routine matter in the past.
Perhaps SWA can tell us about any other metal fatigue tests out in the market that can be done this quickly -- but that they have chosen not to do in the course of normal business.
Perhaps SWA can tell us about any other metal fatigue tests out in the market that can be done this quickly -- but that they have chosen not to do in the course of normal business.
Apr 4, 2011, 10:10 am
#90
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Thank you, Brian for the information. But now I am concerned that that this test can be done on 60-odd planes in two days -- and that it hadn't already been done as a routine matter in the past.
Perhaps SWA can tell us about any other metal fatigue tests out in the market that can be done this quickly -- but that they have chosen not to do in the course of normal business.
Perhaps SWA can tell us about any other metal fatigue tests out in the market that can be done this quickly -- but that they have chosen not to do in the course of normal business.