It is yet unclear as to how this will impact Airbus’s delivery schedules? Although Indian carrier IndiGo has continued taking deliveries despite the issue, Qatar Airways refused, with Lufthansa stepping in to take its deliveries.
As per airline industry sources, Airbus is facing a second category of technical problems with its latest A320neo aircraft. This is on top of the earlier reported engine glitches the aircraft faced causing delays in delivery schedules of its latest passenger jet aircraft.
The latest problems revolve around the hydraulic systems, specifically the increase in the noise levels of the hydraulic pump when the A320neo is taxing on one engine, as per sources.
The sources went on to add, excessive temperatures in the hydraulic system, could be the cause, especially in hot climates.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ CEO, also confirmed the occurrence of the issue saying the aircraft had issues “with the hydraulic system and the software”.
On its part, Airbus has Airbus reiterated the fact that the above mentioned glitches are expected to be resolved by this summer.
Frequent flyers have grown familiar with the distinctive sound, similar to a “dog bark”, heard below the cabin in the A320neo aircraft, just before it gets ready for takeoff.
This distinctive noise is produced by the hydraulic pump, which is designed to maintain equal pressure on separate systems when one of the engines supporting them is either switched off or non-functioning or shutdown.
It essentially is a safety measure to ensure that there is enough hydraulic pressure to retract the landing gear in the event that one of the engines fail during takeoff. The landing gear has to be retracted quickly, so as to reduce drag and allow the pilot to execute a smooth recovery, during takeoff.
In order to save on fuel, many aircrafts, when they are on the ground, or are taxiing, switch on only one engine, and that is when this “dog bark[ing]” sound is distinctly noticeable.
According to 2 people who are familiar with the matter at hand, since the sound is noticeable by passengers, it could disturb them.
As per a source who is close to Airbus, the sound is now more noticeable since the A320neo uses engines which are quieter.
With Qatar Airways, rejecting the first delivery, Lufthansa became the first airline to take delivery of Airbus’s new jet – the A320neo. Both airliners did not immediately return a request for comment.
As per a source who is close to the Indian carrier IndiGo, the issue was not a problem, and the airline has continued to take deliveries.
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