Qantas Depressurisation

[Dan Hammond]

I think it was about a week after that ACARS message that it hit the other aircraft. But i could be wrong.

[Grahame Hutchison]

It was hit by VH-OJH on the 18th November.

[Mick B]

OJM was actually the one that hit OJK.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Correction, VH-OJM was the guilty part.
Cheers Mick.

[Philip Argy]

ATSB has today issued this advisory:

Aircraft Depressurisation: Cabin crew information bulletin



Summary

This information bulletin is designed for cabin crew and will supplement your airline's cabin crew emergency procedures manual and should enhance your knowledge about what can occur during an aircraft depressurisation.
Download Complete Document AR2008075_2:
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/...R2008075_2.pdf

[Philip Argy]

Here's the latest report just released:

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/...53_Interim.pdf

[Dan Hammond]

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn...009/mar09/3898

Sydney, 06 March 2009

Qantas today welcomed the latest interim reports issued by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) into the QF30 and QF72 inflight incidents in 2008.

The reports indicate that the ATSB's investigations continue to focus on:
* the failure of one of 13 passenger emergency oxygen system cylinders on the B747-400 operated QF30 Hong-Kong-Melbourne service and subsequent diversion to Manila on 25 July 2008; and
* a fault with the operation of one of three Air Data Inertial Reference Units (ADIRUs) on the A330-300 operated QF72 Singapore-Perth service and subsequent diversion to Learmonth on 7 October 2008.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the factual accounts of the incidents and investigations to date continued to support the findings of Qantas' own investigations.

"These two incidents involved extremely rare, if not unique, circumstances that were beyond Qantas' control," Mr Joyce said.

"Both reports detail the facts that have been gathered by the Bureau to date, including information provided by Qantas from our own investigations.

"We, and all airlines operating these aircraft types, are keen to fully understand what contributed to these highly unusual incidents.

"Importantly, both reports confirm that Qantas has responded appropriately to all safety actions required by the ATSB."

Mr Joyce said Qantas remained totally focused on safety.

"Our approach to safety has not changed in any way and is based on our commitment to the highest standards and practices," he said.

"Safety remains our highest priority and we will continue to work closely with the ATSB, CASA and manufacturers on these ongoing investigations."

[Philip Argy]

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/748064/ao2008053_2.pdf

Here is what the ATSB has to say about its second interim factual report:

The ATSB’s second interim factual report on this accident, released today, indicates that to date there is no evidence of systemic safety problems with oxygen bottles of the type involved in the accident. Various tests have not been able to replicate the cylinder failure that initiated the accident.
The report provides details of the wide-ranging and ongoing technical examination of five oxygen cylinders obtained by the ATSB from the same manufacturing lot as the failed cylinder. The original cylinder was lost in the South China Sea in the course of the accident.
Analysis of the factual information and findings as to the factors that contributed to the accident remain the subject of ongoing work. Details will be included in the final report of the investigation.
To date, all pressure tests of the cylinders met or exceeded the relevant safety specifications, with recorded rupture pressures being over twice the maximum working pressure of the cylinders.
Other work is being carried out to determine the minimum size of mechanical flaws that could result in cylinder failure in service. The ongoing ATSB investigation will supplement that work with a program of rupture tests on cylinders that have had various sized ‘artificial’ flaws machined into the shell.
The ATSB expects to conclude the data gathering and analysis aspects of the investigation in early 2010, with a final report to follow.

The report also includes comments on some crew and passenger issues that were not in the previous report, including the consequences of the failure of the pre-recorded automatic passenger advisory message to don masks.

[Philip Argy]

The ATSB has just announced that its final report on this incident will be released at a press conference on Monday.

[Robert S]

I imagine Qantas is delighted with this timing.