Airbus sweetens airplane deal with American Airlines

[eolesen]

 

[eolesen]

 

[777 fixer]

http://aviationblog....-how-much.html/
"In the July 2011 order, American and Airbus said American would buy 130 airplanes from the current Airbus A320 family through 2017, and 130 of the next-generation A320neo airplanes beginning in 2017."

Are these the aircraft to be built in Alabama?

The answer is no if they ae being delivered between 2013-2015 as the Mobile site won't start delivering aircraft till 2016. Even then most of the AA aircraft will probably be coming from Hamburg.

 

[Bob Owens]

No AA mechanic fixes an aircraft we have not taken delivery of.

?? I recall working 747-400s as an AA mechanic even though we never took delivery of one.

 

[Bob Owens]

Doesnt really prove anything, they could have been painted anywhere.

 

[FWAAA]

Airbus HAS to paint their aircraft, they do not have the option to deliver aircraft unpainted. This is because they use aluminum that is UNCLADDED, which would cause it to corrode. Boeing delivers aircraft to AA with cladded aluminum, which can remain unpainted.

Other AA mechanics have previously posted that the AA aluminum skin is a customer-specified option and could be installed on Airbus planes when new (just like it is on AA's Boeings). Did AA re-skin all of the AB6s when AA stripped the Airbus gray paint and polished them? When new, they were painted, but within a few years, all 35 of them were stripped and polished.

BTW, just because a portion of the aircraft is painted, it doesn't mean it is made of composite. For example, the tail of an MD-80 is principally aluminum. It is painted for one of several reasons, (extra corrosion protection, minor damage protection, etc.)

Thanks.

 

[eolesen]

AA's were simply stripped, buffed & polished. You don't reskin an airplane unless there's serious damage, and with an Airbus, you might as well scrap it because the residual values wouldn't support the expense.

What I'm told is that Boeing will orient the grain of the metal in one direction if the airline requests it. Airbus had been unwilling to commit (largely because of the number of companies involved in sourcing the components) to that.

 

[eolesen]

Doesnt really prove anything, they could have been painted anywhere.

If you say so. Given the number of aircraft photographed while still at TLS or HAM, I suspect you're wrong.

 

[Tater Salad]

Other AA mechanics have previously posted that the AA aluminum skin is a customer-specified option and could be installed on Airbus planes when new (just like it is on AA's Boeings). Did AA re-skin all of the AB6s when AA stripped the Airbus gray paint and polished them? When new, they were painted, but within a few years, all 35 of them were stripped and polished.



Thanks.

what I should have said was, The A320 family is certified to be built using un-cladded aluminum. They would have to request a modification of the type certificate to be able build them with cladded aluminum. IIRC I have never seen an unpainted A320 family aircraft.

 

[cf6mech]

Airbus HAS to paint their aircraft, they do not have the option to deliver aircraft unpainted. This is because they use aluminum that is UNCLADDED, which would cause it to corrode. etc.)

And I thought the paint was to hold them together....crap was I wrong!

 

[Bob Owens]

If you say so. Given the number of aircraft photographed while still at TLS or HAM, I suspect you're wrong.

Wrong? How so? I said they could have been painted anywhere.

 

[777 fixer]

I also read the reason Airbus moved here is because the coating/paint Airbus used to give the AA aircraft that shiny aluminum look (since it is a composite and AA wanted that classic look) violated French EPA laws, so Airbus came here to dump their garbage on American soil.

Since the A319 and A321 that AA will be getting are assembled in Hamburg that should not be an issue.

 

[A320 Driver]

And I thought the paint was to hold them together....crap was I wrong!

I've been flying the bus sinced 98. Pretty solid machine. I am also an A&P and I like their structural setup better than the Boeings. Many of the structures are bolt in replacement instead of cut and patch.

Driver...

 

[DNTULSA]

I've been flying the bus sinced 98. Pretty solid machine. I am also an A&P and I like their structural setup better than the Boeings. Many of the structures are bolt in replacement instead of cut and patch.

Driver...

How many Scarebuses have you mechaniced on?

 

[A320 Driver]

How many Scarebuses have you mechaniced on?

How many have you piloted?