Old fears revived by AF 447 Loss

Author: mgiles  |  Category: Accidents, Airlines

Rudderless A310

Rudderless A310

The loss of AF 447 has rekindled simmering doubts about the safety of advanced composite aircraft and lent new wings to old concerns.
In 2007 a Boeing Employee alleged that he was fired for raising doubts about the long term safety of composite airframes as applied in the Dream liner and reports of the 2005 incident in which an A310 lost most of its rudder en route from Cuba to Canada have resurfaced.
This is the stuff conspiracy theorist love. Big Business suppressing vital safety concerns to protect profits.
While there is good cause for caution when introducing new technology it seems to have escaped the notice of the fear mongers that high performance Gliders have been using highly stressed composites for years without trouble and the A330 is still basically a metal aeroplane structurally.
It does seem that these concerns have been very carefully investigated but it also seems sure they will be revisited with a vengeance.

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