Lufthansa Technik to carry out some Airbus A380 wing rib feet repairs

This is good news, all round.

The really significant point is that we read yet again that “one A380 wing rib repair is to take between 40 to 50 days”, well below the exaggerated time-estimate of 56 days made by the Emirates Engineers, and advanced by CEO Tim CLARK, ignoring the estimates of Airbus’ Engineers.

And this period of “40 to 50 days” is before the “learning curve” benefits kick in.

Of course, it is not beyond the wit of man to understand that Airbus are bound to consider Emirates as a valued client, just as Airbus do consider all their customers as "valued clients" (Boeing, too, in their problems, with the B787, for example).

It would not be surprising if, beyond the pure, "official guarantee" position, Airbus offered some gentlemanly & soothing sweeteners to their clients, including Emirates.

To facilitate such a gentlemanly option, it would doubtless be better if Emirates' Leaders were to adopt a policy of discussing such issues discreetly, in a sound-proofed conference room, between gentlemen, instead of reaching for the first microphone, sounding off in public, and making visibly ill-founded and exaggerated statements, in sundry approaches via the media.

In the eye of the beholder, apparent public posturing, and attempts at negotiating via the media are scarcely the best ways to "make friends and influence people" to mutual advantage.

Many thanks, TechGuru.

I agree entirely with the “hugeness”. You are right; Your phrase "42 days with 40 mechanics on each aircraft" is absolutely correct, in that it was reported as the SIA team’s official, actual, concrete task-time on the first A380 “treated”.

SIA did, reportedly mention, that they would expect learning-curve time-gains against that figure of 42 days. Obviously, One is not really in a position to confirm or contest that remark.

But all that is not the issue. I do not want to split hairs here; no question of that.

I saw one summary of key assumptions (NOT the original, obviously) with the “56 days” (which you mention : no problem with that), but with a remark imputed to Airbus, as a task-time reflecting "a worst case scenario, allowing generously for unforeseen issues".

That was NOT the standard. The standard was the “40 to 50 days”, mentioned or confirmed by LH Technik.

Emirates reportedly adopted the 56 days as "standard", factored it in, and took no account of "learning curve pick-up" in the subsequent computations.

Result: a minimum 33% overstatement or excess in Emirates “published anticipated estimates” versus the SIA experience of 42 days, and, I re-emphasise, excluding any learning-curve time-gains.

In fairness, Tim CLARK / Emirates has recognised the pleasant surprise (of the 42 days of SIA, as against Emirates -- “adopted”, if you wish -- “56 days”), and openly said this.

But they had already begun using the higher figures in “pitches for financial compensations from Airbus”.

Once again, thanks for your reaction. Please feel free to come back and tell me if I am mistaken. If that were to prove to be the case, I would recognise it and amend my analysis. That is no problem.

I make no apologies for hammering away at this point of Emirates’ exaggeration.

I do not "buy" the Emirates' approach, or the tentative arguments of those who support them in that approach.

The facts militate heavily against Emirates' attitude and behaviour. Just take a look.

The problems hit the headlines around mid-January, 2012.

There was never any denial of the fact by Airbus. Never.

Two JUNK POINTS were denied immediately : (a) that the phenomenon was an immediate threat to safety (certainly no more than there had been in the similar – not identical in detail, but identical in the principle – case of the first Boeing B747’s ; but there was not the web-&-tweet mediatisation of drivel in those days ; those items were handled professionally & with ease) ;

---(b) that it was because of British engineering at Airbus UK, … a point of absolute & ignorant clap-trap that was knocked on the head swiftly.

After less than 2 months of inevitable & understandable to-ing & fro-ing, necessary to get the facts under control, and to chuck out the “B-S” – BARELY 2 months – in early March, 2012, Emirates’ Leaders began “beating their gums” for COMPENSATION.

We were treated, e. g., to this sort of prose, even in good quality newspapers, the “Financial Times” among them, from about March 10 or 11, 2012 onwards :

•--- Emirates Airlines….., is seeking compensation over faulty engineering and technical woes faced with the Airbus A380. The world’s largest operator of A380's is PLANNING TO SEEK COMPENSATION from the aircraft maker after COMPLAINING of WIDESPREAD DISRUPTION and an EXPECTED LOSS OF REVENUE, the airline's president told the Financial Times yesterday.
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Just look at the exaggerated presentation, represented by the choice of vocabulary. At the premature dates indicated, it is all so immature, in comparison with the far more sober reactions of the other carriers concerned.
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Emirates has found wing cracks on the 10 A380s that have been inspected so far, AND ITS PRESIDENT IS CITED by the FT as saying that ALL 21 IN ITS FLEET WOULD NEED REMEDIAL WORK.

•--- The initial problem was Airbus’s attitude with dealing with the situation when THEY INITIALLY REACTED WITH DENIAL ABOUT THE CASE.
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Poppycock ! See above !
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•--- Last month (Feb. 2012), the European Aviation Safety Agency ordered all A380 superjumbos to be checked, while saying that THE PLANE WAS SAFE TO FLY.
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What does that tell us about Emirates reaction ?
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•----Emirates president Tim Clark told the Financial Times that the grounding caused "A LOT OF COMMERCIAL HARDSHIP"
. ……..

Compare that hyperbole with the moderate behavior in the lamentable & really dangerous case of the B787’s !

It is a good job the Emirates did not order any B787’s ! Just think of the ear-bashing that Boeing would be receiving from Emirates !

One need say no more ! Emirates had shot from the hip & exaggerated prematurely. Period.

The EASA had de-dramatised the whole safety scene in February, 2012 !

Airbus was preparing a flexible approach to solutions, to mitigate disruption.

Emirates were sounding off, exaggerating, and already clamouring for compensation !

Tim CLARK had lost yet another opportunity for remaining silent in public, with dignity.