Comments on: Europeans Require Pitot Tube Modifications for A330/A340

By: AirborneWithoutFear

AirborneWithoutFear — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:04:09 +0000

It should be pointed out that no actual evidence exists which points a finger at the Thales probe, as both the Thales and Goodrich probes are manufactured to the same specifications. I smell an EASA/Airbus scapegoat, and it looks like it’s Thales’ turn to get flushed.

Article correction, US Airways always had the Thales probe–not the Goodrich probe.

By: enplaned

enplaned — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:52:31 +0000

Good explanation of how pitot tubes and static ports work at wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot-static_system

Includes references to the Birginair and AeroPeru crashes, both of which were caused by either blocked pitot tubes or static ports, as well as the Air France crash this past summer.

By: Frank V

Frank V — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:23:04 +0000

Lest we forget, these innocent looking devices, that are so very critical to flight safety, are the exact same devices that some of the geniuses at TSA used as hand and foot holds (a year ago) when trying to gain access to parked aircraft at a major US airport — all in the name of security theater.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4165535/

http://forums.ifdg.net/index.php?showtopic=6626&mode=threaded&pid=95015

By: CF

CF — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:29:29 +0000

Oliver wrote:

Or are the tubes tied (hehe) to the avionics and the airline gets to pick different versions of that?

I think that's probably how it works here. Goodrich and Thales both had options, and I think it is tied to the avionics.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:15:50 +0000

I know airlines get to pick the engines for their aircraft (assuming there is a choice), but do they also get to pick the manufacturer/type of seemingly minute detail parts like these tubes? Or did Airbus simply switch manufacturers at some point in time, and US/LH happened to get their aircraft when Airbus was using the good ones? Or are the tubes tied (hehe) to the avionics and the airline gets to pick different versions of that?

By: JayB

JayB — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:09:22 +0000

A little slow here today, what with the discussion on that “goofy little thing” called the “pitot tube,” as important we’ve learned it is.

Tomorrow, perhaps…”‘change-of’-gauge’…what airlines might not be telling you!”

By: David SFeastbay

David SFeastbay — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:21:23 +0000

Can’t really think of anything to say on todays blog other then….

better safe then sorry as the saying goes.