Aircelle is readying improvements to A380 nacelles as part of an Airbus programme to increase the reliability of the superjumbo.
For the nacelle, which is maintained as an "on condition" subsystem, Aircelle is next year planning to introduce non-destructive testing techniques, including tomography, and tools to allow airlines to inspect composite components of the nacelle "to tell you when you need to intervene", said Aircelle president Vincent Mascré.
He added that requests for the improvements came from the operators, particularly in Asia due to exposure of the composites to increased humidity.
"There's more concern about ageing of composites over there," said Mascré, adding that there have not been problems reported with the composites to date. "We participate in every 'C' check," Mascré said. "We have a few findings, but they're minor. Some are being treated through service bulletins and small design changes. The in-service experience has been good, with very few snags." He added that the five operators flying the A380 "are satisfied with the state of the product".
Aircelle was able to verify its nacelle under extreme conditions after the uncontained Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine failure on a Qantas A380 in November. "We had the opportunity to have a destructive test that all the engineers would have dreamed to have had in the development phase," said Mascré.
In the aftermath of the uncontained engine failure on Qantas' A380 WHEN, Mascré says Aircelle engineers were able to analyse the nacelle in Singapore before it was removed from the aircraft. Ironically, they liked what they saw.
"The cowls broke where we expected them to break in a high-energy event," said Mascré. "We proved that the nacelle behaved exactly as we expected it to behave."
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Source: Flight Daily News
