Cessna172RG From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 744 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1422 times:
Friend of mine just sent me some pictures of a JetStar A321 flight he recently took. Apparently on the left wing, the center flap guide was missing it's cover but the internal mechanism seemed to look intact. Is it normal for an A320 family jet to fly without a flap guide cover due to maintenance issues? Are they on the MEL? He was a bit worried.
Kappel From Suriname, joined Jul 2005, 3533 posts, RR: 18 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1413 times:
Quoting Cessna172RG (Thread starter): Is it normal for an A320 family jet to fly without a flap guide cover due to maintenance issues?
It is not normal, but the aircraft is safe to fly without it. There are several pictures in the database of this. The plane does incur a slight drag penalty too.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4041 posts, RR: 55 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1253 times:
Yeah, it's on the MEL.
That cover is only for aerodynamic purposes, to minimise drag over the mechanism inside. It is prefectly safe to fly without, but will incur slight drag penalties and the crew will compensate for this - all will be explained for them in the MEL.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
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