Airbus and Rolls-Royce advise checks on Singapore A380s: SIA

November 04, 2010 | 21:40

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Airbus and Rolls-Royce have advised Singapore Airlines (SIA) to carry out technical checks on its A380s following the forced landing of a Qantas plane with the same engine model, SIA said Thursday.

"Our engine manufacturer Rolls Royce and aircraft manufacturer Airbus have advised us to conduct precautionary technical checks on our A380 aircraft, following today's incident involving another operator’s A380," SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said.

While SIA has said it would not ground the 11 double-decker A380s in its fleet, the carrier said there would be flight delays involving the aircraft.

"Resulting from this development, Singapore Airlines will be delaying all flights operating our A380 aircraft," Ionides said.

"We will keep affected customers updated and more information will be provided once it is available."

The A380s operated by SIA are powered by Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 engine, the same model as those installed in the Qantas plane that made an emergency landing in Singapore on Thursday due to an engine failure.

Qantas said flight QF32 developed major engine trouble just six minutes into a flight from Singapore to Sydney, and it dumped fuel over Indonesia before returning to Singapore's Changi Airport.

SIA acquired its first A380 in October 2007, becoming the first airline in the world to operate the world's biggest passenger jet.

A total of 37 of the giant aircraft are in operation around the world, including six with Qantas. Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa are the other operators.

Various airlines have ordered another 234 A380s, according to Airbus.

>> Troubled Qantas plane lands in Singapore: AFP reporter

>> A380 with engine trouble in Singapore emergency landing

>> Indonesians describe explosion, debris from Qantas jet

>> No plans to ground A380 fleet: Singapore Airlines

>> A380 Qantas incident covered by procedures: Airbus

AFP

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