BERLIN // The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a safety warning for an air speed sensor used on Airbus A330 and A340 jets, and urged airlines to test the device.
Experts have suggested the instruments, known as pitot tubes, may have contributed to the June crash of an Air France Airbus A330 that killed 228 people.
The emergency directive, effective from today, said malfunctions have been reported in the pitot tubes. The Cologne-based agency said the problem may originate with manufacturer Goodrich Corp. and could cause an in-flight air leak that would cause incorrect pressure and airspeed readings. Goodrich is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
While the agency said the design was sound, it urged operators to test the devices - a relatively easy task that should not disrupt services, an agency official said.
"There has been a limited batch of Goodrich pitot tubes which had a quality issue," Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said.
"Through the serial numbers, the faulty pitot tubes are perfectly identified."
He could not immediately say how many airlines or aircraft might be affected, but said the problem was "very limited."
Investigators trying to determine why the Air France flight crashed in June have focused on the possibility that the pitot tubes iced over and gave false speed readings to the plane's computers as it ran into a turbulent thunderstorm. Modern jet airliners carry at least three of the L-shaped metal pitot tubes that jut from the forward fuselage.
* AP
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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