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A380 Flies 5,000 Miles On Three Engines
Canada's Transportation Safety Board says Emirates Airlines elected to fly an A380 more than 5,000 miles across the Atlantic, southern Europe and the Mediterranean to Kuwait on three engines after the number four engine flamed out about an hour after takeoff from JFK. The original destination was Dubai for Flight 202 on Oct 26. "The crew consulted with the company and decided to divert to Kuwait International Airport (OKBK) on the remaining three engines where an uneventful landing… (www.avweb.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Many years ago an Eastern Airlines L1011 departed for a very short flight between Miami and Nassau (don't remember which direction) and in succession two of the engines failed due to oil starvation. Turned out the mechanic didn't use a required o-ring when he changed the oil. So… why did the A380 engine fail? Would another? From Emirate's standpoint can you imagine how much fuel they'd have to dump to get down to landing weight? (Assuming A380's can dump fuel… otherwise a massively overweight land back at JFK).
That's a whole lotta fuel. They were tanked up for going all the way to Dubai. They would gave to dimp much if that fuel to make a quick stop in Canada, Maine, Boston or NY.
Most times they'll fly across on 3 engines wwithout any problem. But that one time that the airliner doesn't make it across the ocean, because more engines go out later in flight, will erase all the savings from those times that they didn't dump fuel, didn't pay for hotels, and didn't delay their passengers.
Most times they'll fly across on 3 engines wwithout any problem. But that one time that the airliner doesn't make it across the ocean, because more engines go out later in flight, will erase all the savings from those times that they didn't dump fuel, didn't pay for hotels, and didn't delay their passengers.
On the subject of water in the fuel. The A380, like most commercial aircraft, is equipped with a capacitive fuel gauging system. Because of the differance in dielectric between water and fuel, if there is one thing capacitive fuel gauging systems detect better than fuel, it's water. If they had contaminated fuel they would have had plenty of warning something was wrong. All four engines are fed fuel from collector cells, which are also gauged, water in there would have been easily detected. So there's not much chance of a surprise. All the, "bells and whistles" would have been going off long before they had ever pushed back from the gate.
Most people reading here assume the pilots/ airline had a Loy kore info available to them, than we have at out disposal in this discussion. But without getting some more specific disclosure about the incident, it's difficult for many to have the reassurance that they made the right call in this instance.
They were about to start out across the ocean when one of their engines failed. I hope they had sufficient information about the specific cause of the engine failure. but they never did divert to inspect the engine and determine a cause. And we have no way of knowing that their diagnostic equipment had definitively identified the cause of the engie failure. It's understandable that people discussing the incident would question the decision to cross the Atlantic.
They were about to start out across the ocean when one of their engines failed. I hope they had sufficient information about the specific cause of the engine failure. but they never did divert to inspect the engine and determine a cause. And we have no way of knowing that their diagnostic equipment had definitively identified the cause of the engie failure. It's understandable that people discussing the incident would question the decision to cross the Atlantic.
* assume [they] had a LOT MORE info available...
I'm confident that the pilots had a lot more information than we have from the the blurb in the article. The pilots must have been fairly confident of the reasons behind the shutdown. November last year, an Emirates A380 lost an engine departing SYD. They turned around and landed back in SYD. Emirates also diverted an A380 flying from DXB to JFK into CDG last year due to engine problems.
As others have pointed out, the jumbos are perfectly capable of flying safely on 3 engines. It's been done in the A380 several times and by other airlines as well. The question of losing another engine is certainly there, but most of the North Atlantic tracks are covered by ETOPS 120, so as long as the weather is suitable at the diversion airports, you're not too far from a suitable runway. Just how long does it take to dump that much fuel anyway and prepare the aircraft for a safe landing?
I think Emirate's history with the A380 shows that when the situation warrants, they'll take on the costs of a diversion over taking risks with their passenger's lives.
On water in the fuel: I couldn't find anything specific to the A380, but the A340s/A330s have pumps that circulate water that collects at sumps back into the fuel, so that it's burned up. That only works up to certain concentration of water, but the 777 has a water detection system. Surely the A380 being a newer plane must have a system like that as well.
As others have pointed out, the jumbos are perfectly capable of flying safely on 3 engines. It's been done in the A380 several times and by other airlines as well. The question of losing another engine is certainly there, but most of the North Atlantic tracks are covered by ETOPS 120, so as long as the weather is suitable at the diversion airports, you're not too far from a suitable runway. Just how long does it take to dump that much fuel anyway and prepare the aircraft for a safe landing?
I think Emirate's history with the A380 shows that when the situation warrants, they'll take on the costs of a diversion over taking risks with their passenger's lives.
On water in the fuel: I couldn't find anything specific to the A380, but the A340s/A330s have pumps that circulate water that collects at sumps back into the fuel, so that it's burned up. That only works up to certain concentration of water, but the 777 has a water detection system. Surely the A380 being a newer plane must have a system like that as well.
At the time you just don't know why the engine failed. And what about the next one? Did the same mechanic work on all the engines?