WASHINGTON — U.S. officials on Thursday ordered the replacement of Airbus airspeed sensors of the type suspected of playing a role in the loss of Air France Flight 447 and all 228 people aboard in June.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice published in the Federal Register that U.S. airlines operating Airbus A330s and A340s must replace on each plane within 120 days at least two of three sensors made by European electronics giant Thales.
The approved replacements are made by North Carolina-based Goodrich.
The order affects 43 U.S.-registered planes — 32 operated by Northwest Airlines, now part of Delta Air Lines, and 11 operated by US Airways. All are A330s; there are no A340s registered in the U.S.
FAA said the order was based on “numerous reports” that the sensors, called Pitot tubes, can become blocked at high altitudes in stormy weather. When that happens, it can lead to a loss of airspeed information or inaccurate information.
Northwest and US Airways had already replaced their older Thales Pitot tubes with newer-model tubes. Since then, US Airways has installed Goodrich tubes to replace the Thales replacement, spokesman Morgan Durant said.
Delta spokeswoman Ashley Black said the airline is working with Airbus and Goodrich to make the replacements by the FAA’s deadline.
While a car’s speedometer uses tire rotation to calculate speed, an airplane uses Pitot tubes to measure changing air pressure.
