[Central Scrutiniser]

It could be terrorism, but I've seen quite a few charter airlines that have very dodgy maintenance, let alone quality flight crews.

I don't have any data on Sharm, didn't ever go there (I want to!). But you know, that until there is more info, who knows? I remember all the folk blaming the AA A300 on terrorism, but it was clearly a mechanical that brought that down.

[11B3]

Time will tell.....

In your travels if you get a chance to go to Sharm, by all means do. You know how to get along with others no matter where you are, and the people there are not anti-American. Most of them want to practice their English on you. It is far cleaner than Cairo, that's for sure!

Oddly enough, I was thinking about Zappa and Joe's Garage just the other day.

[autoresponder]

That aircraft had been damaged and repaired early on.

The composite material also has lousy shear strength.

Multiple factors including conflicting info from that airline company and pilots regarding policy in sudden emergencies.

I talked to an engineer friend in Florida within minutes after it happened and he pointed at the composites right away; says he only flies in Boeing jets until they build 'em like Boeing does.

This has been a problem in the fabrication of racing cars and maintenance.

The difference is you still have four wheels on the ground; even if the suspension fails you can hit the wall, spin; end up in the grass; rarely get airborne and die.

Losing a vital component in the air is a no win situation; one rear vertical surface gone and you are history.

Coming in on a wing and no prayer.

Tests normally done on metals to find weaknesses cannot be done on those composites.

They are very light but the drawbacks are significant.

Never heard much later from the manufacturers after that crash.

Too many airlines invested heavily in their jets; all awaiting another "incident".