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A350 engine shutdown incidents linked to cockpit drink spills
Airbus and Rolls-Royce are investigating two incidents in which A350s experienced uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown after drinks were spilled on controls situated on the cockpit centre pedestal.
FlightGlobal understands that the airframer is to discuss the matter with operators on 30 January, and will issue a transmission on recommended practices for handling beverages on the flightdeck.
One of the incidents involved a Delta Air Lines A350-900 en route to Seoul on 21 January, which diverted to Fairbanks after its right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine shut down, while a similar event occurred to another carrier in November last year.
[...] The previous incident, on 9 November 2019, occurred about 1h after tea was spilled on the centre pedestal, FlightGlobal understands.
Apparently, waterproofing keys is against the spirit of Airbus engineering as membranes cost way too much.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 02 2020, @12:37PM (9 children)
Unworkable solution. Flights go on for 4, 8, 12 hours. Pilots have to hydrate if not eat, sleep, etc. They can't nessesarily leave the cabin anymore due to post 9/11 protocols. Short of it is you're going to need drinks in the cabin.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 02 2020, @03:01PM (2 children)
"you're going to need drinks in the cabin"
Either a Camelback and/or sippycup ought to do it.
No reason for Airbus to go out of their way to put in cupholders.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 02 2020, @08:53PM (1 child)
With straws would be best. If they have some sort of one way valve requiring negative pressure to open, even better.
(Score: 2) by ChrisMaple on Monday February 03 2020, @03:09AM
If straws are used the planes couldn't legally land in Seattle.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 02 2020, @03:31PM (1 child)
A more realistic solution would be to require pilots to use cups that seal themselves when not in use. I picked up a couple of them at costco a while back for $20 for the pair. It's impossible to spill more than a few drops without keeping the button purposefully pressed. It's just a simple spring mechanism that keeps it sealed when the button isn't pressed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 03 2020, @08:09PM
As I said elsewhere, many (most? all?) commercial airlines do require spill-proof cups and water bottles. But good luck getting pilots to follow all the rules. Like many job site rules, if they understand the importance of them or the punishment is big enough, then they follow them religiously. When both are missing, don't be surprised when they don't. Especially when they are keeping track of a hundred things that are higher priority.
(Score: 2) by isostatic on Sunday February 02 2020, @04:36PM (2 children)
If pilots can’t leave the cabin then they’d better not drink - you’d never guess what happens a couple of hours later.
(Score: 3, Touché) by toddestan on Sunday February 02 2020, @08:22PM (1 child)
If they leave the cabin midflight, it's a long way down. I assume the OP meant to say "cockpit". Which is false, they can definitely leave the cockpit during the flight, for the reasons you've stated.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 03 2020, @12:48AM
Well, yes and no. There has to be at least two people in the cockpit at any given time. If there is no relief pilot or cleared cabin crew available to relieve you, you cannot leave.
Also, for what it is worth, most airlines I am aware of require spill-proof cups or water bottles. I spend most of my time in Boeing aircraft, but I remember the A330 models I've been in having cup holders and vaguely remember the A350s having them as well.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 02 2020, @07:06PM
Didn't any of those bozos watch "Fate is the HUnter"?