Concorde needs modifications, say experts

In this story: Design 'seriously compromised' 'No new dramatic information' RELATED STORIES, SITES

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Aeronautics experts have told CNN.com they believe the Concorde fleet could face modifications before having their airworthiness certificates reinstated.

Philip Butterworth-Hayes, an authority on aircraft parts, said Britain's Civil Aviation Authority were either "still baffled" by the crash and therefore being "super cautious," or "they do not know what happened."

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However he said the airworthiness certificates were to be suspended and not cancelled and that this was significant. "This would suggest it is a short-term measure," he said.

Butterworth-Hayes, the aircraft components editor for Jane's Aircraft, said the piece of metal found on the Paris runway by French investigators could explain the whole disaster.

Design 'seriously compromised'

But if so it could mean Concorde's design would be seriously "compromised." It might mean the plane would have to have its fuel tanks armoured and the resulting cost and payload could make the plane unviable.

However, Butterworth-Hayes believes the supersonic airliner will survive. "I would be very surprised if this were the end for Concorde. The number of hours of flying time these planes have logged without incident is proof of their airworthiness.

"Everything depends on the technical outcome."

The original British test pilot for Concorde, Brian Trubshaw, said: "It is unusual to have airworthiness certificates withdrawn and it would normally mean some modifications would have to be carried out."

'No new dramatic information'

David Learmount, operations and safety editor at Flight International magazine, compared airlines' certificate of air worthiness to annual checks on the safety of cars, as opposed to air operators' certificates which are like individual drivers' licences.

Revoking BA's and Air France's certificates of airworthiness for Concorde would be a statement that "the machine is too risky to fly," said Learmount.

But, after talking to high-level figures in the industry, he said he believed that no new dramatic piece of information had been found.

"I have a hunch that having reviewed all the assembled information they (the air investigators) calculated that the likely risk of such an incident happening again was unacceptably high."

He said such revocations were extremely rare. The only other instance he could recall was the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. grounding DC10s in the wake of a crash in Chicago in which more than 270 people died.

The problem in that case was later found to be related to maintenance. Asked if this was the end of the line for Concorde, Learmount said "not necessarily."

If the planes were to fly again it would depend on the airlines making changes to the aircraft to satisfy the aviation authorities, he said.

"The decision will be taken on how much it costs to have such modifications done. If the costs are high it may not be worth doing," Learmount added.

British Airways grounds Concorde
August 15, 2000
French Concorde suspension to continue
August 11, 2000
Piece of metal 'could have downed' Concorde
August 10, 2000
Final farewell for Concorde crash pilot
August 8, 2000

CONCORDE SST
British Airways - Flights - Aircraft/Fleet

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