[Dead Dog]

Actually, that 1.5 is the Saftey Factor...not Margin. Failing at 1.5 Factor of Safety is zero Margin of Safety. They will either have to modify the wing, or accept a lower Gross Weight.

§ 25.303 Factor of safety. Unless otherwise specified, a factor of safety of 1.5 must be applied to the prescribed limit load which are considered external loads on the structure. When a loading condition is prescribed in terms of ultimate loads, a factor of safety need not be applied unless otherwise specified.

Federal law, ours and EASA, says they are screwed

[farlander]

Thank you for that clarification. Now I won't be flying them under *any* circumstances. I guess they are screwed. That's too bad.

As I said, it's not like they were going to sell any/much of those anyway, but this, pretty much puts the nail in that (flying) coffin.

[Frank_Discussion]

Thanks. I knew there were regs that applied here.

[globalheater]

no not really - the margin is 150 % of the worst case max. load.

This was derived from computer models because when the tests started there no actual measurements existed. Usually these models contain a margin by themselves - now Airbus could re-calculate what a worst case load would be based on the measurements from test-flights and much likely have passed the test without even having to repeat it.