AA flew a non-ETOPS A321S LAX-HNL on Aug 31; Oops!

[topDawg]

Ok cool, and thank you.

No structural or performance differences at all (besides the differing cabin layout/capacity)?

Few things up front, got to have HF radios (dual?) and two FMCs. Also have to have two cross feed valves. For the most part its just adding extra redundancy.   
 
Then after that it is mostly extra checks that have to be done. Cold start of the APU, can only have so many IFS per year and only so much oil consumption and stuff like that. 
as Mechanics we have to be ETOPS certified to work on those aircraft also.

 

[Rogallo]

ok... one more time.

Was the aircraft that was sent on this flight not even a 321H and did 321Hs come from the factory with ETOPS?

Was this an issue of using the wrong fleet subtype or an aircraft within the right subfleet that for whatever reason did not have current ETOPS?

 
Just looked it up. It's a 321S. 

 

[Kev3188]

Few things up front, got to have HF radios (dual?) and two FMCs. Also have to have two cross feed valves. For the most part its just adding extra redundancy.   
 
Then after that it is mostly extra checks that have to be done. Cold start of the APU, can only have so many IFS per year and only so much oil consumption and stuff like that. 
as Mechanics we have to be ETOPS certified to work on those aircraft also.

Good info. Thanks!

 

[WorldTraveler]

Just looked it up. It's a 321S.

Thank you, sir. it's great to have someone participating in the conversation that can speak accurately to the issues.

so then did it come from the factory as ETOPS?

and so far as you know, does AA have processes or automation in place to prevent aircraft from being assigned to missions which they aren't capable of doing?

 

[Rogallo]

Thank you, sir. it's great to have someone participating in the conversation that can speak accurately to the issues.

so then did it come from the factory as ETOPS?

and so far as you know, does AA have processes or automation in place to prevent aircraft from being assigned to missions which they aren't capable of doing?

 
I'm not sure how they come from the factory. And I'm sure they have processes in place to prevent this type of situation which obviously failed in this case.

 

[Flying low]

Flying AA to Hawaii?
http://airtravel.about.com/od/traveltools/fl/American-Airlines-Upgrades-Aircraft-on-Hawaii-Flights.htm

According to that article, the A321H is a single engine jet, how can that reach Hawaii?

From the article:
American Airlines has started replacing its older fleet of Boeing 757s with new Airbus A321Hs on its Los Angeles-Hawaii routes. The A321H is a narrowbody, single-engine jet aircraft with 16 first class seats, 38 Main Cabin Extra seats and 127 Main Cabin seats.

 

[AA-MRO.COM]

They have plenty of money to pay the fines
They are lucky nothing happened mid air or this company would be paying big time. The passengers should sue jut because they can. Putting everyone in an unsafe condition has to be worth something.
Hey but I just fix em they fly in and they fly out....

 

[dfw gen]

According to that article, the A321H is a single engine jet, how can that reach Hawaii?

From the article:
American Airlines has started replacing its older fleet of Boeing 757s with new Airbus A321Hs on its Los Angeles-Hawaii routes. The A321H is a narrowbody, single-engine jet aircraft with 16 first class seats, 38 Main Cabin Extra seats and 127 Main Cabin seats.

misprint its single aisle. if you really think there is a single engine jet that replaces the 757 i have some ocean front property  for you.....

 

[blue collar]

but been out of compliance due to a part change; ie: an idg that was not ETOPS put on one of the engines, or something of that nature.

 

[mistified]

A rookie mistake for such a established major airline.
Some heads should roll for sure at the top. Shows a systemic problem.
Anything less would look bad and appear hypocritical.

 

[Hackman]

A rookie mistake for such a established major airline.
Some heads should roll for sure at the top. Shows a systemic problem.
Anything less would look bad and appear hypocritical.

This is what happens when you have former USukAir and America Worst minions running the worlds largest airline into the ground. The largest hubs are the size of the former USukAir whole operation. New management are clueless, and are clearly out of their league.
 
Systemic problem/s.....as in many. This merger with the perpetual last place carrier was a major AA mistake. Pilots and the manage-mint rolling in bone-us cash, so it's all good.....for now.
 
As soon as fuel goes back up, bankruptcy 3 for the USukAir dream team. Can't wait.

 

[wings396]

I doubt that this blunder has anything to do with the merger. It came off the tracks starting with the dispatcher, followed by the crew. To the best of my knowledge, neither of these groups are integrated with the US gang...

 

[jcw]

And to be clear the US side has been running ETOPS operations for an extremely long time with Airbus aircraft to the Caribbean so this has nothing to do with the management team - clearly some one made a mistake - to turn this into management made this happen is a red herring

 

[1AA]

I can't recall this ever happening before the merger. Coincidence or not, the new American is mainly run by USAIR people. It's perceived that way.

 

[mistified]

There is no such thing as "ETOPS" to the Caribbean.
 

And to be clear the US side has been running ETOPS operations for an extremely long time with Airbus aircraft to the Caribbean so this has nothing to do with the management team - clearly some one made a mistake - to turn this into management made this happen is a red herring