JetBlue Flight Lands Safely After Reporting Flap Problems

ABC News & The Associated Press ^ | Sept. 22, 2005 | The Associated Press

[RunningWolf]

A Jet Blue airliner landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday after its pilot reported a problem with the wing flaps as the plane prepared to descend, an airline spokeswoman said. No injuries were reported.

The emergency landing ..

[safisoft]

don't like the airbus. I believe it is an inferior plane. It's fairly new and comfortable but I have to convince myself that the pilot wouldn't be flying it if he thought the tail was going to fall off. However, for all I know, there may be some foolish pilots out there.

The A320 has a better safety record than the Boeing 737. Your opinion is just that - an opinion (which you are welcome to), but it is not based upon facts.

[Textide]

Glad you're happy not enjoying mankind's greatest accomplishment. Surprised to find you using a computer.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Remember a few years ago when that Air Alaska (or was it Alaska Air?) flight went down off Point Magoo, California? Within two weeks, there were four or five other incidents involving that airline.

[Textide]

It's because you have confidence in the engineers that made the experience possible. You could be doubled over in pain because your driver refused to pull over for a restroom break during a 10 hour bus ride, but you chose to fly there in 1 hour instead.

[paul51]

Color me foolish but all other things equal, I'd rather be on a 737.

[RunningWolf]

And then you eat the food too!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Now that's suicide!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

That settles the age old question.

Yes, John Madden does indeed wear Depends.

[dljordan]

Holy Moly! When I got out of mechanic's school in 98' my first job was $10 an hour. Of course I was non-union, working in the south on GA aircraft.

[safisoft]

Color me foolish but all other things equal, I'd rather be on a 737.

I like the 737. I have 8,000 hours in 737s. I also know the aircraft has had issues. Serious ones. Like the USAir 737 that rolled over on its back and hit the ground doing 400 knots on a clear day. The investigation discovered a flaw in the rudder actuator, where the rudder commanded BY ITSELF a full deflection - a condition called a 'hard over' - which means the crew could not reverse the full rudder because the hydraulic pressure went to the wrong side of the actuator. A design flaw, that Boeing did not fix for 5 years - AFTER the investigation forced them to do it. I know because I was flying the 737 at the time.

The bias on this thread to American-made is fine - but it is not based upon facts in this regard. To date, thousands of people (read that again, THOUSANDS) have died on B737. No passengers have died on an A320 in its 18 years in service. And, there are now as many A320s in service as there are B737s.

[Nik Naym]

"... Fiat makes the accessories & drives..."

Fiat? !!!

Fix It Again Tony...........THAT Fiat?

Makes a guy want to go by bicycle instead.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

It's amazing. Employees join the Unions thinking they will get more money from a company that way. The company is limited in budget by occupied seat miles sold. So when a union negotiates a contract and settles for an absurd amount of benefits for their patrons, how does the company compensate? Layoffs. Employees deserve what they get if they support unions. They cut their nose off in spite of their face. I was in the IAM for a while. I am surprised AMFA is doing what they are doing at NW. It seems now that AMFA is just a repackaged IAM

[paul51]

Your opinion is more valid than mine due to your experience and knowledge. I'm convinced. Actually, I'm surprised the airbus has been in service that long. I was discounting the stats a little because I thought it was a little short on service time. Time flies. The facts are convincing.

[Exit148]

One of my sons was attempting to land on the Nimitz, when his flaps wouldn't go down. He was flying an EA6B and when he was finally allowed to come in - full speed, he caught the #2 hook, and landed safely. He was mad at himself that he didn't get the preferred #3! (Something like the JetBlue pilot who was annoyed that the nose wheel was 6 inches off the white line!) I think the cause of the flap breakdown was a $12 bolt that had snapped. He was commended for his skill and his Mother has a few more gray hairs that popped up when he told her.

[Denver Ditdat]

However if I recall, Boeing and Airbus use many of the same vendors for parts.

It's true.

A perfect example from yesterday's A320 incident: the Messier Dowty nose gear. Yep, it's a French company. They also supply the gear for the Boeing F/A-18 E and F (Boeing? I still think of the Hornet as a McAir plane) and for Boeing's upcoming 787. Boeing may be an American company, but they build aircraft with parts sourced from every corner of the globe.

You're spot-on with your CFM example. Frontier uses CFM-56s on their Airbus fleet, just as they did on their former Boeing 737-300s. Other carriers use V2500s.

The A320 family is not without its problems, but the same can be said about any other aircraft in service. I have an "If it ain't Boeing..." sticker on my toolbox. I like it - it's a clever and funny slogan, but like any other bumper sticker it's a bit simplistic as a complete philosophy. I'm betting that yesterday's JetBlue incident has more to do with maintenance than the manufacturer of the gear. It certainly won't stop me from flying on A318s, 319s, or 320s.

[red flanker]

In a move that stuns the world, Airbus announces they are implementing 100% fly-by-wire aircraft...and crew.

"Airbus...we are go"

"Airbus...nous sommes prêts à voler"

[RunningWolf]

In a move that stuns the world, Airbus announces they are implementing 100% fly-by-wire aircraft...and crew.

At a joint news conference the airline CEO's proclaim that they have full confidence in the virtual pilots. The FAA announces that there will be a rigorous certification program for the virtual pilots. ALPA states that if they can collect the same amount of dues $ for each virtual pilot, well they are go for it too.

It'll be cheaper, we can all fly for $10, the airlines will finally make money!

[My2Cents]

Airbus

We have a winner.

[little jeremiah]

Really makes me not want to fly even more than I already don't.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

The A320 has a better safety record than the Boeing 737. Your opinion is just that - an opinion (which you are welcome to), but it is not based upon facts.

I guess it can depend on what one would define 'safety record', but according to this, it paints a different story. However, I believe those numbers were based on fatal events, not just mishaps in general, and does not specify any further as to specific aircraft type (ie, early 737's vs the newer -600, -700, and -800 series which have stellar records). If you have any facts on hand, I'd love to see them.