16th Mar 10
Boeing 737s to undergo safety checks
by Paul Russell
Emergency checks have been ordered for 600 Boeing 737 jets are to be conducted around the globe after concerns a faulty mechanism could make the aircraft uncontrollable.
Both Qantas and Virgin Blue have been affected by an emergency airworthiness directive handed out by the US Federal Aviation Administration about the issue, however the carriers said that passengers would not be affected by the checks.
The order was given after an incident which took place on the 2nd of March when a Ryanair 737-800 flying from the Netherlands to Madrid experienced severe vibrations which forced the plane to divert to Belgium.
Upon landing, it was discovered that there had been extensive damage to the left elevator, a movable flap on the horizontal tail that controls the pitch of the aircraft, was found.
The FAA now expresses concerns the unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other jets of the same type of design.
Manager of the Transport Airplane Directorate, Ali Bahrami said that severe vibration in this attach point is suspected of allowing rapid wear of the joint, and resulted in failure of the attach lugs.
If the condition is not corrected, it could result in the loss of aircraft control and structural integrity.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has confirmed that the FAA would apply to both Qantas and Virgin Blue.
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