Cathay Pacific Airways has suspended 24 return flights through the end of Wednesday as part of a precautionary inspection of its fleet of 48 Airbus A350 aircraft, which utilize Rolls-Royce engines. This action follows a concerning incident wherein a part malfunctioned shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong on one of its A350-1000 widebody planes. As a result, both the airline and authorities have initiated a thorough examination of the A350 jets in their possession.
In contrast, other airlines operating the Airbus A350, such as Japan Airlines (JAL), are conducting their own evaluations without halting their flights, pending further guidance from Rolls-Royce. JAL operates five A350-1000 aircraft, all of which are relatively new, and has reached out to Rolls-Royce for additional information regarding the incident. A spokesperson for JAL confirmed their commitment to adhering to directives from the manufacturer.
As of now, Rolls-Royce has not issued specific inspection directives to other airlines according to a source familiar with the matter, indicating that they are still gathering information about the incident. The engine manufacturer has acknowledged the occurrence and expressed its dedication to collaborating with Cathay Pacific, Airbus, and the relevant authorities involved in the investigation.
While the specific component that failed has not been publicly detailed by Cathay Pacific, it has been identified to be the first occurrence of such a failure on a global scale across A350 aircraft. Industry insiders have suggested that the failure relates to a fuel nozzle in the XWB-97 engine used by the A350-1000.
Experts in aviation maintenance have noted that while such failures are infrequent, they tend to present less risk compared to malfunctions of major rotating components, such as turbine blades. Nonetheless, any extensive inspections prompted by this incident could still lead to significant operational disruptions for involved airlines.
Airbus has reiterated its support for both Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific during this period, emphasizing its readiness to provide technical assistance.
For airlines like China Airlines, which operates 15 A350-900 but does not have A350-1000 aircraft, there appears to be no immediate consequence as they do not utilize the affected engine types. China Airlines has stated their commitment to monitoring guidance from the manufacturers and conducting any necessary testing to ensure operational safety.
While the operational impact thus far seems contained, Cathay Pacific remains vigilant in its inspections, having also undertaken checks of its 30 A350-900 aircraft as a standard precaution. The airline has identified several engine components that require replacement but has withheld details regarding specific aircraft models involved.
In conclusion, while Cathay Pacific takes proactive measures in response to this isolated incident, other airlines await further directives from Rolls-Royce. This situation underscores the importance of maintenance vigilance in the aviation industry, particularly concerning the safety of widely used aircraft such as the A350.
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