Qantas A380 Fuel Fungus?

David M · #1 3rd March 2009, 09:58 AM

Channel Ten New last night in Adelaide ran a story about Qantas grounding all their A380's due to fuel fungus giving faulty fuel readings.

Any further news??

Brad Myer · #2 3rd March 2009, 10:36 AM

Hahah! Typical media!

Its just 1 A380 stuck in LHR.

Malcolm Parker · #3 3rd March 2009, 10:40 AM

Thats explains why at the QF Jet base I saw 2 x 380's at the Jetbase last night 1 in the hanger and one in the open.

Dan Hammond · #4 3rd March 2009, 11:00 AM

Also explains why yesterdays QF93 MEL-LAX that was scheduled as an A380, was operated by 744 VH-OEF and went via SYD as QF11 was cancelled

Brad Myer · #5 3rd March 2009, 11:24 AM

One of the A380s is currently on its way back from LHR operating QF10 which is due into MEL this evening. (Delayed)

A second A380 will operate the scheduled QF31 Dep from SYD-LHR this afternoon.

And the 3rd A380 is due back in service tomorrow.

Michael Morrison · #6 3rd March 2009, 11:27 AM

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...380-fleet.html

Quote:

Australia's Qantas Airways is working to get its Airbus A380 fleet back in full service after all three of its aircraft were grounded over the past 24hr as a result of technical issues.

&

Quote:

The Oneworld alliance carrier confirms in a statement to ATI that all three of its A380s were grounded, two for the same reason and one for a different reason. One is already back in service, another is due back in service later today and the third should go back in service tomorrow.

Brenden S · #7 3rd March 2009, 12:01 PM

Interesting. Its a Microbiological contamination of the fuel. You shock treat the fuel tanks to try and get rid of the organism that lives in the water.

Robert Zweck · #8 3rd March 2009, 12:45 PM

I remember when this was an issue for Ansett-ANA and its Electras.

Bill S · #9 3rd March 2009, 01:07 PM

It's an ongoing problem for pretty much all kerosene-fueled aeroplanes.
There's a fungus that grows in the boundary between the fuel and any water in the tanks. On smaller aeroplanes you can use stuff called Prist to help kill it, but it's really nasty stuff.
I suspect that for at least the last decade or so, the fuel companies have been adding something to they fuel to help inhibit the growth of the fungus as I haven't seen Prist used for quite a long time.
I personally refused to go near Prist as it's so dangerous to humans.

Raymond Rowe · #10 3rd March 2009, 01:09 PM

It is a problem for all aircraft.As stated you place a powder in the fuel tanks this should then treat the problem.It was first noticed on the DC9 Aircraft wheich had to have it removed.The BAE146 were scrapped because some of them were so bad.