EU Orders Airbus A350 Inspections Following Cathay Pacific Engine Fire
EASA has ordered inspections of Airbus A350 as a precautionary measure to identify and remove any potentially faulty high-pressure fuel hoses.
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EASA Takes Precautionary Measures, Orders Airbus A350 Inspections After Cathay Fire
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has ordered inspections of Airbus A350 aircraft following an engine fire incident on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight.
The decision is made as a precautionary measure to identify and remove any potentially faulty high-pressure fuel hoses.
Key Points
- EASA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive outlining the requirements and compliance time for the one-time fleet inspection.
- The inspection may only apply to a portion of the A350 fleet.
- The decision was based on preliminary information from an ongoing safety investigation led by Hong Kong authorities, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce.
- Cathay Pacific, one of the largest A350 operators with 48 aircraft, has grounded 15 A350s due to the issue, with nine still awaiting repairs.
- A worldwide spare parts shortage for the fuel hose component is delaying the return of some grounded Cathay Pacific A350s.
- Other airlines, such as Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines, have carried out precautionary inspections without canceling flights
What It Means
The EASA's decision to order inspections of A350 aircraft is about proactive safety measures. That’s a good move.
By identifying and addressing potential issues early, regulators and airlines can prevent more serious incidents from occurring.
However, the spare parts shortage faced by Cathay Pacific underscores the challenges of maintaining a large fleet of modern aircraft and the need for effective supply chain management.
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