I've just read your news in brief item on Emirates' decision to suspend A380 operations to Johannesburg and was horrified to see the alarmist headline and the factual error in the story.
There is NO SAFETY issue. This is an industrial and manufacturing issue relating to the design fatigue life of a particular component and service intervals for the aircraft (unlike motor cars, aeroplanes are subject to a schedule of mandatory inspections during which any Airworthiness Directives must be implemented). The integrity of the aircraft design or its ability to provide safe transport is not in question.
No cracks have been found on any wing ribs. Cracks have been found on small brackets known as wing rib-feet. There are approximately 4 000 wing rib-feet in each A380. Inspections of the in-service fleet have revealed that only a handful of rib-feet on some - not all - A380s, had developed microscopic cracks. The rib-feet allow the wing surface to be attached to the skeletal structure of the wing.
By way of additional background, the cause of the crack has been identified (it relates to the selection of a particular alloy and how some of the rib-feet were being fastened) and plans are being put in place to roll out installation of a repair and modification.
I'd be grateful if you would publish a follow-up article as I am sure that your headline will have caused unnecessary worry and a breakdown of confidence in what is a very safe, reliable and efficient aircraft.
Linden Birns - PR & spokesman for Airbus, Sub-Sahara Africa.
