Airbus A310 safety ?

[200hr Wonder]

Correct, but not very accurate. I am whats 30x different. off course 3 miles, 90 miles no biggies eh. And really it was mostly me just take the piss out of you

[airway]

Fair enough. I researched this years ago, because I needed something a layperson would understand. This is my stock answer now. I know it's not accurate, but it's easier for me to remember.

[airway]

Odds of being on an airline flight which results in at least one fatality:
Top 30 airlines with the best accident rates
1 in 11.4 million
Bottom 25 with the worst accident rates
1 in 1.3 million


Odds of being killed on a single airline flight:
Top 30 airlines with the best accident rates
1 in 29.4 million
Bottom 25 with the worst accident rates
1 in 1.7 million


http://planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm

[200hr Wonder]

Funny google came up with the same website, where I got the one 30 million answer

[giligan]

Air Canada's 320 fleet was purchased starting in 1990, Their Boeing fleet is older than that. Mid to late 80's. WestJet's oldest NG's were built in 2001 and have over 30,000 hours on them already. How old is your BE200? Series 300 Twin Otters haven't been produced since 1988. The first time I flew a plane that was younger than me I was 29 years old and the plane was 23. You'll be fine.
gil

[ahramin]

Hello all,

Like the original poster, we are also booked on the a310 for a flight across the pond in August. While not a great flyer, I've been getting worse as I get older (what's up with that!??). I am a little worried about the safety record on the a310 especially the loss of rudder on the TS 961. Can any of you please tell me if there has been enhanced safety measures introduced to prevent such an occurrence (on an a310) happening again? Also to any of you pilots out there... what could someone like me with an irrational fear do to settle the nerves? I don't want this fear to continue interrupting our lives.

Cheers - paddycanuck

From the TSB report:

4.1.4 Airbus

4.1.4.1 All Operators Telex (AOT-1)

Based on the initial information uncovered during this TSB investigation, Airbus, on 17 March 2005, issued an AOT for the inspection of all aircraft equipped with part number A55471500 series rudders. This one-time visual and tap-test inspection involved 222 Airbus A310s, 146 Airbus A300-600s, 6 Airbus A330s, and 34 Airbus A340s, for a total of 408 aircraft. In addition, a more detailed inspection of rudder side panels on over 20 aircraft was conducted using the elasticity laminate checker (ELCH) test method. Finally, the attention drawn to rudders by the occurrence resulted in operators examining their rudders more closely during maintenance. These various inspections found examples of disbonds, damage around hoisting points and trailing edge fasteners of the rudder, corrosion and abrasion at hinges, seized hinges, hinges with excessive free play, and water ingress.

SAFETY ACTION

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 69

4.1.4.2 All Operators Telex (AOT-2)

On 02 March 2006, the aircraft manufacturer issued a second series of AOTs for the inspection of all aircraft with rudder part number A55471500 series rudders. These AOTs were subsequently made mandatory by an Airworthiness Directive issued by the EASA, representing the State of manufacture. The aim was to verify the structural integrity of the rudder by means of one-time tap-test inspection to the interior face sheets of the rudder side panels, as well as checking the drainage holes at the bottom of the rudder and cleaning hydraulic fluid from the external surfaces. Access to the interior of the rudder was through the inspection holes in the
front spar of the rudder. It is noted that the access to inboard surfaces from the inspection holes is limited. No disbonds have been found.

I believe EASA was working with Airbus on a new inspection schedule for composite control surfaces but I don't know if that was actually implemented for the 310.

[paddycanuck]

Thanks ahramin and everyone else who replied,

It's good to see that the issue is being closely monitored through repeat inspections. I know that there are lots of A310 operators flying thousands of miles a day and that does help to build my confidence. I guess with it being an older aircraft, the majority of the 'kinks' have been worked out - as noted by an earlier poster.

If it's good enough for Harper, Will & Kate and the boss lady with the crown who am I to doubt it's safety. I guess that I'll just have to get on with it. I've been in a few uncomfortable situations in the last few years that really shook my confidence in flying. If any of you are of a similar mindset - where a series of events meant that you wanted to plant your feet on terra ferma - could you please let me know what you did to block it out?

Thanks all - btw, yes, I am one of those long term lurkers. Glad to finally be out in the open here. It is an excellent forum.

Regards,
-paddycanuck