Widespread Airspeed Sensor Failures Raise Safety Concerns

Faulty airspeed sensors discovered on several Northwest Airlines jets have revealed the extent of the problem, which is linked to the Air France crash that killed 228 people in June. The malfunctioning equipment made it impossible for pilots to know their speed on at least a dozen recent flights. The issues are tied to sensors made by Thales Corp., which have been at the center of a safety investigation.

Key Takeaways:

• At least a dozen recent flights on Northwest Airlines Airbus A330s had malfunctioning airspeed sensors, making it impossible for pilots to know their speed.
• The faulty sensors were discovered during an investigation into the Air France crash that killed 228 people in June.
• The malfunctions involved planes with sensors made by Thales Corp., which have been at the center of a safety investigation.
• Many airlines, including Northwest, replaced the faulty sensors with another Thales model, but aviation regulators have since ordered them to replace at least two of the three sensors on each plane with models made by Goodrich Corp.
• All of the incidents took place in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and the planes involved landed safely.
• Aviation experts believe the discovery could provide clues to the cause of the Air France crash and what might be done to prevent future tragedies.

Statistics:

• At least a dozen recent flights on Northwest Airlines Airbus A330s had malfunctioning airspeed sensors.
• 228 people killed in the Air France crash in June.
• 32 Airbus A330s in Delta Air Lines' fleet were reviewed for archived flight data during the investigation.
• The Intertropical Convergence Zone, where the incidents took place, extends from 5 degrees north of the equator to 5 degrees south.

Sources:

• Associated Press (AP)
• European electronics giant Thales Corp.
• Airbus
• European regulators
• Delta Air Lines
• Northwest Airlines