About 2,000 of 6,000 aircraft operated by 68 airlines worldwide will be inspected over the next three years for the type of fuel-system defects suspected of causing the crash of a Trans World Airlines Boeing 747-100 in July 1996.
The Aircraft Fuel Systems Safety Programme will involve checks on Airbus Industrie, Boeing, Fokker and Lockheed aircraft as they go through scheduled heavy-maintenance checks, including wiring and grounding straps, the condition of fuel pumps, fuel lines and fittings, and the electrical bonding on all equipment.
The participating carriers, including all members of the US Air Transport Association (ATA), the Association of European Airlines, and the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, expect to assemble "-the most comprehensive analysis of aviation fuel systems ever undertaken".
ATA "-expects that the new data will confirm the safety of both the fuel systems and the design philosophy which created them".
The programme, seen as a pre-emptive strike against possible US Federal Aviation Administration action within the next few weeks, also aims to deflect unwelcome US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations.
The FAA says that it retains its philosophy of eliminating ignition sources from fuel tanks, rather than adopting measures to prevent an ignition source causing an explosion. The NTSB, however, is urging the FAA to require aircraft design or operational changes which would preclude operation of transport aircraft with explosive fuel-air mixtures in the fuel tanks.
Jim Hall, NTSB chairman, says: "There is no way we can assure ourselves that all ignition sources will ever be eliminated. What I don't want to see is our recommendations being rejected out of hand."
The airlines, however, believe that more study is required before the FAA orders any costly changes in the way it certificates commercial-aircraft fuel tanks.
Source: Flight International
