Urgent A380 flight measures aim to avert duct rupture

Airbus A380 operators have been ordered urgently to update the type’s flight manual with new procedures intended to prevent the risk of structural damage from bleed-duct rupture. The emergency directive from EASA follows previous measures imposed 2 years ago, when damage to an aircraft was traced to uncontrolled overpressure in the pneumatic system following a valve closure during take-off. While the flight manual was updated as a result, EASA states that new cases of engine bleed-duct rupture have emerged, leading to structural damage in a “critical” area. EASA had previously ordered installation of a new software standard, version 6.4, for the engine bleed air system. This was intended to avert the overpressure scenario, and consequent rupture. <br/>