Plans Are To Repair All A380 Aircraft By December, 2013

Airbus says it will have settled on a permanent solution to the problem of cracks which have been discovered in the wing rib feet of its A380 superjumbo airliners by the end of the year, and will have all of the affected aircraft repaired by December, 2013.

According to a report from the French news service AFP, an Airbus Spokesperson said that temporary repairs are being made on 17 airplanes found to have the tiny cracks in the wing structures. But a permanent solution is several months away.

The spokesperson said that its engineers are currently testing a new manufacturing process, and that repair kits should be in the hands of airline maintenance personnel by October. The planemaker insists that the cracks do not impose a safety risk for the airplane.

EASA has ordered the inspection of all A380s in service. Airbus reportedly budgeted about $138 million in 2011 to cover the cost of the repairs.

Despite the issue, the planemaker is reportedly moving forward with plans to ramp up production of the A380. (Airbus file photo)

FMI: www.airbus.com