American Airlines Jet Flies From Dallas To Paris With Exposed Belly

[marmar]

from HuffPost:




American Airlines Jet Flies From Dallas To Paris With Exposed Belly
May 8, 2008 04:10 PM




Federal regulators said Thursday they are investigating how an American Airlines jet lost a panel from its belly shortly after taking off from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport before continuing on across the Atlantic and landing safely in Paris.

Part of the Federal Aviation Administration's probe involves whether the pilot should have turned back, said FAA spokesman Roland Herwig.

Airline officials say the pilot thought the loud noises during the flight last month were due to cargo shifting, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.

A flight attendant on the April 20 trip said there was "a loud shaking noise from the belly of the plane." A few minutes later, there was another noise that "sounded like an explosion," the attendant said in an e-mail, according to Dallas television station WFAA.

When the Boeing 767 landed in Paris after the nine-hour flight, ground crews discovered a panel allowing access to an air conditioner was missing. The panel was part of the jet's outer skin and measured several square feet.

An American spokesman said the air conditioner area is separate from the cargo area and the pressurized cabin.

In a statement, the airline said it was also investigating and wouldn't comment further. The pilots' union had no comment, and the pilot, Steve Kantlehner, was not available for comment. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/08/american-airlines-jet-fli_n_100884.html

[DS1]

1. So, was the luggage area exposed? If so, it's something for people traveling with pets

to consider. I noted that the point out the cabin is pressurized...

[enki23]

2. damn. you'd think that would have affected fuel consumption

.

[trotsky]

4. Exactly what first came to my mind.

Especially on those international flights - they practically measure that fuel out to the ounce.

[snooper2]

5. The effect would probably be the same..

as partly opening your sunroof on your car

[GodlessBiker]

3. I can't tell you how many times I've done that.

[Kali]

10. I was thinking the same thing.

:rofl:


(I live and work on a ranch - very brushy and rocky around here, all useless objects have long been scraped off the bottoms and sides of my vehicles)

[tjwash]

6. Nice....how's that outsourcing mechanics to Taiwan working out for you AA?

First all the flights grounded a couple of weeks ago because they failed a FAA wiring inspection, and now the panels are falling off their internationals.

I refuse to fly AA.

[Mist]

7. "cargo shifting"??!! Don't they tie that stuff down better? nt

[arcadian]

8. Easy to see why it went unnoticed in Texas.

[dembotoz]

13. all that way exposed belly -must have been cold

[paparush]

9. BOOM! BANG! Pilot - "Oh.... that's just cargo shifting..nothing to worry about."

[SteveM]

11. Hell, in my van, I just turn the radio up louder.

[paparush]

14. Remind me to never fly to South America in your van!

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

12. Great. We're flying from DFW to London on American tomorrow

I hope our plane's belly is properly covered up!