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Qatar Airways aura des Airbus A380 sans fissures



Publié le 11 juillet 2012 à 10h00 par François Duclos dans Actualité, Technologie - 0 commentaire


La compagnie aérienne Qatar Airways a repoussé à janvier 2014 l’arrivée de ses premiers Airbus A380, afin d’être sûr que le problème des microfissures dans les ailes aura été réglé.

Interrogé lors du Salon de Farnborough le 10 juillet 2012, le PDG de
la compagnie qatarie Akbar al Baker a expliqué avoir refusé que le
constructeur européen lui fournisse des superjumbos dont les ailes
nécessiteraient encore la réparation des microfissures, la première
livraison étant initialement fixée à la seconde moitié de l’année
prochaine. « Nous prendrons livraison des A380 avec de nouvelles ailes
certifiées, ne nécessitant pas de modification », a-t-il déclaré,
repoussant donc la date prévue de plusieurs mois. Qatar Airways a
commandé huit A380 plus cinq en options, les livraisons devant s’étaler
jusqu’à 2019.

Le problème, dont il faut rappeler qu’il est sans danger pour les vols, avait été découvert au début 2012 sur des pièces (pieds de nervure)
à l’intérieur des ailes. Airbus a commencé à en fabriquer de nouvelles,
et proposera en début d’année prochaine des ailes construites avec un
alliage différent – qui doivent être certifiées par l’agence européenne
pour la sécurité aérienne EASA d’ici la fin de l’année.
En attendant, le constructeur a annoncé que les réparations sur les 77
superjumbos existants (et ceux produits au cours des prochains 18 mois)
pourraient prendre jusqu’à huit semaines si elles sont effectuées en une
seule fois, et non lors des visites de maintenance habituelles.

S’il n’a aucune intention d’annoncer de nouvelles commandes pendant
le Salon de Farnborough, le PDG de Qatar Airways a d’autre part déclaré
qu’il donnait à Airbus « le bénéfice du doute » sur l’A350-1000,
ajoutant que le constructeur « nous avait écouté et devrait bien faire
les choses ». La compagnie basée à Doha a commandé 80 exemplaires du
futur biréacteur long-courrier dont vingt -1000, mais elle avait
vertement critiqué les performances annoncées de cette version, poussant
Airbus à lui donner des réacteurs plus puissants – et repousser sa mise
en service à 2017.

Rappelons que Qatar Airways opère une flotte de 103 appareils hors fret, dont son premier Boeing 787 Dreamliner (sur 30 achats fermes et autant en option), son carnet de commande comptant plus de 220 appareils.
http://www.air-journal.fr/2012-07-11-qatar-airways-aura-des-airbus-a380-sans-fissures-552343.html

Frustrated by endless delays to its Boeing 787 delivery schedule, Qatar Airways is understood to have initiated discussions with Airbus about a major A330 deal.

Chief executive Akbar Al Baker has been vocal about being "failed by Boeing" over 787 deliveries, which were due to begin in late August but still have not started as a result of unspecified technical issues.

Qatar Airways has 30 787s on order, and had been expecting to introduce its first five this year, with deliveries slated to continue through 2013 and 2014. But with its 787 deliveries in limbo and Qatar facing a potential capacity shortage, Flightglobal has learnt that talks have begun with Airbus for up to 24 A330s. The airline is seeking deliveries from mid-2013.

Al Baker confirms to Flightglobal that his 787s have been subject to "a creeping delivery date", but will not be drawn on the Airbus talks, saying: "We are going to look at all our options but I don't wish to discuss these."

DOHA/LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will not take delivery of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner until an engine defect is modified, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

Qatar has placed orders for 60 Dreamliners - 30 firm and an option for 30 more - and selected General Electric Co.'s new-generation GEnx engine for the aircraft.

"The 787 has an engine with new technology. However, there has been a material defect in the engine which now needs replacement and inspection," Al-Baker said after a speech in the Qatari capital Doha.

GE, the world's largest maker of jet engines, said last month it was investigating a second failure of the GEnx jet engine after a Boeing freighter aircraft aborted a takeoff in China.

It was the second incident involving a GEnx engine since July, when an engine on a jet being tested before delivery in South Carolina failed, causing a fire in grass near the runway.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Aug. 8 that the July failure was a contained incident of the sort that did not normally pose an immediate safety risk.

"We have informed Boeing that we will not take delivery until the 787s have the new modified shaft," Baker, who has often been outspoken about planemakers Airbus and Boeing and other industry issues, said.

Al-Baker called the 787-10 the most cost efficient aircraft on a unit (seat mile) basis.

Qatar Airways is poised to replace its Airbus A300-600 freighters with new-build A330-200Fs after concluding a lease deal with BOC Aviation.
The Doha-based carrier's cargo arm operates the three A300-600Fs alongside four Boeing 777Fs.
Qatar
Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker told Flightglobal that the
airline has decided to acquire three new A330-200Fs to enable it to
phase out its three A300-600Fs. "Delivery is imminent, the first is in
the paint shop," he says, confirming that the lessor is BOC Aviation.
It
is understood that the three A330Fs are being leased while Qatar
Airways negotiates a larger deal for either new or converted A330 freighters. The airline has been in long-running talks with Airbus and EADS'
conversion unit EFW about a deal to convert its large fleet of
passenger A330-200s and -300s to freighters, but has so far failed to
reach agreement.
It is understood that the three A330-200Fs were
previously earmarked for lease to HNA Group of China. The first aircraft
is being prepared for delivery to Qatar Airways in Toulouse, with the
others due to follow in early 2013.

Qatar Airways Ltd. plans to keep its
Airbus SAS A330 aircraft in service longer than previously
planned because its new Boeing Co. (BA) 787s aren’t arriving fast
enough, its chief executive officer said.

To avoid a capacity crunch on scheduled flights, Qatar is
moving protectively to upgrade some of the 29 A330s it has in
its fleet, CEO Akbar Al Baker said today. Changes include new
seats and in-flight entertainment, he added, without specifying
how many planes will be involved.

Al Baker said Qatar Airways has been falling behind its
expansion plan because of delays on the 787, which is comparable
in size to the A330 model. Qatar has already taken delivery of
three 787s and should get two more on Dec. 19, taking the fleet
to five. The figure will grow to 10 by the end of 2013, compared
with an original plan for 30 before the program delays.

“Due to these 787 delays we have a huge upgrade program
for our Airbus A330s to extend their time with us for at least
three more years,” Al Baker told journalists in London.

457 Recaro CL3620 economy seats, 52 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond business seats, and eight first-class seats.