Carriers ponder compensation claims against Airbus for overweight aircraft

TimesOnline ^ | April 7, 2007 | David Robertson

[Paleo Conservative]

Ping!

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[COEXERJ145]

LOL! And the hits just keep on coming.

I'm sure Airbus will offer some free A330's as compensation.

[Chode]

that thing is more nose heavy than he is...

[Right Wing Assault]

Gee, that’s too bad! Heh, heh.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Is this what happens when you design an airplane by committee?

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The worst kept secret in the industry is that the A380 has come in several tons overweight than Airbust contractional promised the buyers. Airbust is currently taking it up the a$$ on the existing order customers demanding financial compensation or Airbust springing for carbon fiber materials to lighten the interior such as the frames for all the seats which will mean the planes are sold at even a greater loss.

All this financial compensation means the amount of A380’s that are needed to be ordered for the project to even break even is now anywhere from 600 to 700 planes, double what was originally spec’d. The number is realistically even higher after all the money they invested in the freighter version which currently has 0 orders.

Then again, Airbust doesn’t really need to worry about such things because its run as a socialist job creation program for Europe, rather than a business that depends on profits to keep it alive. The euro taxpayers will be responsible for funding all these problems with with A340, A380, and the billions in subsidies the Airbust A350 project will demand.

[Kirkwood]

Stick some canards on the nose.

[Kirkwood]

He always looks like he needs more fiber in his diet. Eeergh! Urrrgh!

[aft_lizard]

Nah the EU in response to protecting Airbus will go after Boeing with frivolous charges and make them share technology with AIrbus, kind of like what they are doing to Microsoft now.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Yahh, that will be a cheap redesign........

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Exactly.

How soon till the EU tries to slap Boeing with billions in fines claiming monopolistic practices because the 787 continues to sell so well.

[Chode]

that's not funny... you leave my butt out of this!!!

[Chode]

Boeing... the Rearden Metal of the airline industry.

[zarf]

Wow, who didn’t see this coming.

[phantomworker]

'...Anything heavy at the front will therefore throw off the centre of gravity and that causes all sorts of problems.”

! ! !

[phantomworker]

...its run as a socialist job creation program for Europe, rather than a business that depends on profits to keep it alive.

Lest we forget.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Isn’t this the longest airline in operation as of now??

[PAR35]

The problem is caused by heavier than expected first and business-class areas and airlines have been told to reduce the amount of cargo they carry to rebalance the aircraft.

I can solve the problem for them instantly. Just add a couple of tons to the tail of the plane, and the balance problem will be solved, and you can load cargo in to the front of the plane.

Seriously, they could leave first class in the front, move business class to the rear, and probably at least partially solve the problem. Or split first class between front and rear. They just aren't thinking outside the box.

[Paleo Conservative]

Seriously, they could leave first class in the front, move business class to the rear, and probably at least partially solve the problem. Or split first class between front and rear. They just aren't thinking outside the box.

But being near the front means you're the first off the plane. That can be very important if you need to catch a connecting flight. Why not just take a few frames off the front and put it back on the rear of the plane. That'll fix the CG problem.