EllisG

Let's try and hold the plane together with sticky tape...no I don't read the daily mail really it appeared in my facebook newsfeed...omg I'm friends with a DM reader

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...mes-loose.html

Dick Dasterdly

Crikey, thats a bit worrying.
One of these days O Leary is going to come unstuck bigtime and there will be hell to pay with every one of his cost-cutting stunts getting dug up and given a negative airing.

xxfrecklesxx

Glad im flying with Monarch in a few weeks then....

Rotor

This will teach you to be friends with DM readers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_tape

As a I pilot I managed to scare a passenger witless when I had to jump start a heli off my 4x4 It is perfectly safe but can causes some worried faces

EllisG

After looking at the post a second time I realised the person making the post was a friend of a friend who I had already categorised as strange

Never came across this tape in my flying experience but I see from further investigation that it is indeed good enough when used correctly (and probably plenty good enough for the AA5A's I used to fly). MY guess is that the story should be about dodgy Ryanair ground crew being forced to work in unrealistic timeframes rather than about the materials they are using

Domino

and who approved the aircraft as airworthy ??

looks like a couple of people are now looking for another job

Domino

has anyone noticed that Ryanair flights are running out of overhead locker space.??
last week over 18 bags had to be put into the hold, no receipts were given, so where does that leave the passenger if it gets damaged or lost (easy if it has no tag) ???

steviedeluxe

Absolutely. We all hope and pray there will never be another big plane crash, but if there is and it involves one of their planes, everyone will jump to conclusions.

Dick Dasterdly

According to the Spanish news there's been another rebellion by Ryanair passengers on a flight out of Malaga.
Apparently the flight crew called in the GC.

lyric030250

The Outer Pane of the window has crazed from the look of it.
This is not the load bearing glass, that is the duty of the inner pane.
This will be an allowable 'repair' in the aircraft's manuals, time limited to something like 10 flying hours.
This allows safe flight, with no bits being shed into engines etc. until a windscreen can be sourced.
I know it looks alarming, it is perfectly safe if done correctly.
I doubt if an operator as large as RYR has more than five spare windscreens strategically placed around it's network.
About 10,000$ each.

teuchterpete

Do Ryanair actually own the aircraft, or do they lease them?
If so who is responsible for paying for the repairs? Ryanair or leasing company? O' Leary is not known for shelling out when he does not have to!
Pete

Im_and_Er

At last, a voice of reason.

The tape in question is known a Speed Tape and even has it's own Wikipedia entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_tape

It is specially designed for minor repairs on aircraft and was only used on this occasion to protect the sealant which had been applied to a window which had been repaired or replaced, it's absolutely standard authorised procedure and this is a direct quote from the aircraft's official mintenance manual:

"If you must send the airplane before the sealant is fully cured, install Scotch 425 Aluminum Foil Tape, G00291 on the top of the sealant"

It's failure to remain stuck was probably down to poor cleaning but at no time was the aircraft in danger or at risk. Why would anybody think that the pilots would have flown the plane if they had the slightest doubts about that.

FWIW within the industry RA have an excellent reputation for their high standards maintainence and unlike many others go further than minimums dictate.

The worst sort of ill informed sloppy headline seeking drivel.

lyric030250

RYR lease most everything !

With regard the aircraft, they are responsible for maintenance and the usual deal with a leased aircraft is to return it in as near as possible the condition you received it, fair ware and tear assessed by the lessor.

RYR I believe run heir leased aircraft to the first major check and then return them. Cheapest way !

Domino

if that is the case then why did they turn back.?
there is plane full of people who don't want to be statistics

because of the pressure to stick to timetables and slots as well as probably no spare aircraft, a decision was made. to carry out "repairs" in full view of passengers is the right thing to do of course, better than moving it out of the way for a short period, effecting repair, and returning to pick up passengers. when working the crew and aircraft to the limits an AOG is the last thing anyone wants, other than to be seen carrying out repairs.

dunmovin

you want to pay his prices for a flight, then you play by his rules. The speed tape is SOP for a repair of this kind.

Thhe pilot felt there was a need to return and did so. No harm was done except a delay. BA might have used the same technique, but towed the plane out of sight to do it,causing delays, and their pilot might have made the same choice to turn back. If he contued to fly, when he had a concern.... that WOULD be something to worry about