[Anonymous]

[WilliamRead]

The AAIB report on the incident at LHR last January has identified ice crystals in the fuel lines to both engines as the likely cause. If this is correct, how can thousands of aircraft every day cruise in perfect safety at 5 miles altitude in extreme cold? Similarly, aircraft operate throughout the world at airports in Russia, China, Canada, USA etc that are far colder than LHR ever is. If ice crystals in the fuel line did cause the LHR incident, can someone suggest why this was apparently the first time that this problem has been blamed for such an event.

[VintageKrug]

It seems there were specific conditions which meant that the rare co-incidence of flying characteristics which occurred on this flight were to blame for cold more extreme than is usually experienced.

The full AAIB report is set out here:

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/1-2010%20G-YMMM.pdf

I would not have any qualms about flying the 777 in future, and indeed am booked on this very flight shortly.

[WilliamRead]

Thanks for this response, Vintage Krug. Having looked through the AAIB report from the link that you posted, and knowing your experience as a multi-million mile frequent flyer, I am suitably reassured.

[VintageKrug]

Hardly “multi-million mile”.

But almost….!

[craigwatson]

It had nothing to do with air temp around the LHR area, but more the area of extreme cold it flew through over asia, although that in itself was only a contributing factor, coupled with the fact that unusally small power changes were used in flight by the auto throttles, which in turn allowed ice to build up instead of being “flushed”. Its rarely just one factor, and usually numerous factors ( small and unnoteworthy in and of themselves) that pile up to line up the “holes in the swiss cheese” that cause an accident

[Author]

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