JAA finds sharp increase in airplane defects

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JohnA
Posts: 177
Joined: 29 Mar 2004, 00:00

JAA finds sharp increase in airplane defects

Post by JohnA »

A report by the Joint Aviation Authorities shows a sharp increase in the number of serious defects in airplanes at European airports.

Research in 31 European countries revealed more than one thousand serious flaws. This is nearly double the number found in 2003. In 17 cases, defects such as leaks in the hydraulic system and worn tyres resulted in flying bans.

The researchers have not published the names of the airline companies that scored poorly.

- Radio Netherlands

BP
Posts: 102
Joined: 22 Dec 2004, 00:00
Location: Aveiro, Portugal

Post by BP »

Lets just hope that JAA will carry out their work to maintain the good safety record European Airlines maintain. Lets hope that they attack these issues before its too late.

I would like to know who these airlines might be. Any guess?

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Avro
Posts: 8856
Joined: 28 Apr 2003, 00:00
Location: Belgium

Post by Avro »

As I mentioned in the Onur Air topic, it's nice to see them finding defects on those planes, but they should ban airlines more quickly IMHO.

By banning the airlines they will quickly force them to keep their planes in good shape according to JAA standards.

It's not only by warning airlines that they will be able to decrease the number of serious defects.

It's really frightening to see that the number of serious defects found actually doubled in the last 2 years !!!! Are airlines less safe ? Or are there more "crap" charter airlines flying to europe ? or is the JAA doing more investigations than in the past?

@BP, I would also like to have that list... Anyway Onur is probably on that list nowadays and Phuket Air certainly as well.

Chris

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B744skipper
Posts: 1509
Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 00:00

Post by B744skipper »

BP wrote:I would like to know who these airlines might be. Any guess?
On the RTL4 news they had a top three of that list:

1. Phuket Air;
2. Fly Air;
3. Onur Air;

TCAS_climb
Posts: 413
Joined: 04 Jan 2004, 00:00

Post by TCAS_climb »

Guys, you pay the first rounds at the Luchtzak Pub ! :banana: :lol:

The SAFA report is available here: http://www.jaa.nl/safa/safa.html

A few numbers...

Total number of inspected items
2001: 82,935
2002: 93,681 (+13% vs. 2001)
2003: 100,014 (+6% vs. 2002, +20% vs. 2001)
2004: 148,850 (+49% vs. 2003, +60% vs. 2002)

Total number of findings
2001: 2,851
2002: 3,064 (+7% vs. 2001)
2003: 3,242 (+6% vs. 2002, +14% vs. 2001)
2004: 6,799 (+110% vs. 2003, +119% vs. 2002)

Number of findings per inspected items
2001: 0.034
2002: 0.033
2003: 0.032
2004: 0.046 (+43% vs. previous years)

More inspected items leads to more findings. Logical, isnt'it ?
How does the JAA explain the 43% increase of findings per inspected items ?

-> 1. member states concentrate their inspections on operators which had findings in the previous years.

-> 2. new ICAO requirements came into force and the number of potential findings is increasing.

-> 3. SAFA inspectors gain experience and training, they jump straight at the jugular (i.e. potential findings).

-> 4. some states established more findings than before.


What action were taken then (over a 2-year period) ?

-Information to the national authority and the operator doubled.
-Restrictions on aircraft operations almost tripled.
-Corrective actions before flight authorisation tripled.
-Grounding of aircraft increased by 50% (though less groundings in 2004 than 2003).
-Repercussions on entry permits more than doubled.


To conclude, I don't think we should be worried. The SAFA teams finally start to do their work properly and it shows. :wink:

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