Does QF have pickle fork problems

[Greg Hyde]

Calls for Qantas to ground Boeing 737 fleet after crack discovered on second aircraft

Australia's aviation engineering union has called on Qantas to ground its entire Boeing 737 fleet after a crack was discovered on a second aircraft overnight.

The airline yesterday said it would immediately inspect 33 Boeing 737 planes after a crack was found on one of them during a scheduled maintenance check.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) said both cracks were on a part of the plane called the "pickle fork", which holds up the wings.

"These aircrafts should not be flying," ALAEA boss Steven Purvinas said.

"The area where the crack is takes the load off the wing and all the fuel it carries.

"As long as Qantas is unaware which aircrafts do or don't have cracks, they should ground the entire fleet until they know which are safe to fly."

The airline said the cracks did not compromise safety and that calls to ground its fleet were unreasonable.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-...g-737/11657146

Qantas, Southwest Airlines checking Boeing 737 planes for structural cracks

https://www.news.com.au/travel/trave...896ae905642421