While Airbus is still responding to an Airworthiness Directive issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency regarding cracks found on wings of the Airbus A380 aircraft (see story here), the safety body has issued another directive which requires the replacement of rivets in the fuselage of the superjumbo.
The directive states that an engineering review of the A380 aircraft “identified that six aluminium rivets which have been used are not in compliance with the certification requirements,” a condition that could “adversely affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane” if left unattended.
The aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, is therefore required to replace the rivets with “hi-lite titanium fasteners” within eight months.
The implementation date of the directive is yet to be determined and will be announced within two weeks of the issue date.
For more information, visit www.airbus.com
Alisha Haridasani
