SINGAPORE_AIR From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, RR: 21 Posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 11049 times:
Note to PM: Don't shoot the question-poser
I notice on the following pictures that certain engines are a bit new. From what I've read on the forums over the years, if you look at the tip of the engine nozzle(?) and it's blue / bluey coloured (i.e.: not grey), then it's a new engine.
ANstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4848 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 10987 times:
I think that blue can still be seen for a month or so afterwards. I dont recall hearing about any A380 with SQ having an engine change - and im sure we would have
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 2, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 10917 times:
Quoting ANstar (Reply 1): I think that blue can still be seen for a month or so afterwards. I dont recall hearing about any A380 with SQ having an engine change - and im sure we would have
His point was that on the same aircraft, one engine shouldn't be blue/purple and the others grey unless that engine was changed.
Did they change out an engine during the fuel pump problem?
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Zeke From Hong Kong, joined Dec 2006, 7727 posts, RR: 73 Reply 3, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 10757 times:
Maybe it is something similar to what we did on out 773ERs, swapped one of our spare engines onto the frames after running the aircraft for a while so the engines had different hours on it as a risk mitigation exercise in case a previous identified problem that only shows up aft x number of hours manifests itself.
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Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 4, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 10711 times:
Quoting Zeke (Reply 3): Maybe it is something similar to what we did on out 773ERs, swapped one of our spare engines onto the frames after running the aircraft for a while so the engines had different hours on it as a risk mitigation exercise in case a previous identified problem that only shows up aft x number of hours manifests itself.
I was wondering about that, or just about them doing it for training so their Mechs know how to do it quickly and can take apart a "used" engine to inspect it and know what to look for. SQ being the first customer means they are blazing trails here...
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 80 Reply 7, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 7309 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 2): His point was that on the same aircraft, one engine shouldn't be blue/purple and the others grey unless that engine was changed.
The nozzle is a separate component...it's possible they just changed a nozzle due to ramp rash. That's no unheard of, although damaging the inlet is more common.
GEnxPower From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 6733 times:
Just my 2 cents on the part names, as a engine designer...
There are really too many nozzles on an engine, so sometimes we got to be more specific with what we mean. We get what you mean, Singapore_Air, but I'm just trying to offer up what we call them here
It goes by any of the names like "Exhaust Nozzle", "Exhaust Cone", "Aft Center Body" or "Aft Cone". All describe to various detail the region/component you are talking about.
As for engines being swapped out with spares, it's pretty common, especially in new aircraft/new engine combinations.
PW100 From Netherlands, joined Jan 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 10 Reply 9, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 5842 times:
Quoting Zeke (Reply 3): Maybe it is something similar to what we did on out 773ERs, swapped one of our spare engines onto the frames after running the aircraft for a while so the engines had different hours on it as a risk mitigation exercise in case a previous identified problem that only shows up aft x number of hours manifests itself
I don't think that the risk described is the main factor. This practice is usually done to get a stagger in accumulated engine hours/cycles to prevent that all engines needs [heavy] maintenance at the same time.
As an independent MRO [Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul] company for regional airline engines, we actively recommend this practice, and include such a stagger plan in our PBTH [Power By The Hour] maintenance contracts.
Not sure if that is the case in this example, but it absolutely would make sense.
Regards,
PW100
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Fruitbat From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 547 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3876 times:
AFAIK there have been no unplanned engine swaps on the in-service A380's thus far.
Remember that the engines in service will all have accumulated different lives due to their place in testing plans, etc.
Quoting PW100 (Reply 9): This practice is usually done to get a stagger in accumulated engine hours/cycles to prevent that all engines needs [heavy] maintenance at the same time.
This sounds like what has happened here and is part of the detailed planning that takes place years in advance to ensure a successful entry into service.
Quoting PM (Reply 5): Just so long as "SQ A380 engine changes" doesn't mean their defection to the Engine Alliance!
I nearly had a heart attack reading the thread title!
Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11714 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (5 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2897 times:
Quoting Zeke (Reply 3): Maybe it is something similar to what we did on out 773ERs, swapped one of our spare engines onto the frames after running the aircraft for a while so the engines had different hours on it as a risk mitigation exercise in case a previous identified problem that only shows up aft x number of hours manifests itself.
Quoting GEnxPower (Reply 8): As for engines being swapped out with spares, it's pretty common, especially in new aircraft/new engine combinations.
That is correct.
I have not read/heard of any enine FOD injestion or bird strike that required an unscheduled engine change of the A-380.
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