L'enquête sur le vol Rio-Paris suscite des tensions (The investigation on the flight from Rio to Paris raises tensions)
PARIS (Reuters) - Tensions have emerged between Air France and Airbus, speculation is starting to grow on the cause of the accident of flight AF447 from Rio to Paris in June 2009 with the reading of the black boxes of the device.The two companies indicted in March for involuntary homicide and injuries in the investigation into the disaster which has killed 228, have denied any disagreement. The decisive evidence from the two black boxes rescued in early May should not be known until the summer.
"Wait a few weeks that experts we deliver a consistent message before leaving on speculation one way or another," he said Thursday the CEO of Air France-KLM Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, during the presentation of annual accounts of the group, dismissing questions about his future at the head of the airline.
He stressed he was not yet possible to determine responsibility for the accident flight from Rio to Paris, and that crash was the result of the combination of various elements.
Speaking later to a colleague after the conference, he had these words, recorded by passing a microphone and relayed to reporters: "The way I responded a bit rude, but I am forced to because of Airbus. "
NO ADVICE FOR AIRBUS
Le Figaro wrote Tuesday that the first items put Airbus out of the question and directing investigators towards sole responsibility of the Air France crew or security procedures imposed by the company.
In a memo obtained by Reuters, said Airbus had provided no immediate safety recommendation to the airlines using the A330 as a result of the preliminary analysis of black boxes.
"It's not very 'fair play'," said a source familiar with the matter, adding that this procedure had broken an agreement.
A spokeswoman for Air France has denied any disagreement with Airbus.
"Our relationship with Air France is solid. They all use our products, including about 180 aircraft. With Air France, we shared the costs of research and our interest to support the investigation and understand what caused the tragic loss Flight 447 ", has even said a spokesman for Airbus.
The apparently contradictory information on the interpretation of the black boxes succeed in the media. Latest, Europe 1 radio reported Thursday that there was no error in steering the trajectory of the aircraft and that Air France would have 90% chance of being exonerated.
Asked by Reuters, the Office of Inquiry and Analysis (BEA), responsible for examining the black boxes, were willing to make "no comment" on that information.
Pierre-Henri Gourgeon reminded reporters Thursday that Air France and Airbus had taken "a number of initiatives" after the accident.
The hypothesis of a problem of measurement probes speed pitot type, manufactured by Thales and equipped the A330 and A340, has been suggested as a possible cause of the tragedy. The Pitot were replaced by other sensors throughout the Air France fleet after the accident.
Pitot probes of the wreck could be raised later. These small tubes placed in front of the camera frosted high altitude, which could disrupt the flight.
Reading the black boxes has raised all the technical data for the parameters of the flight and the last two hours of conversations and noises in the cockpit.
Moreover, according to police, the identification of two bodies found in the wreckage and brought to the surface is possible through the exploitation of their DNA.
The reappointment of Pierre-Henri Gourgeon for four years was endorsed Wednesday by the Board of Directors of Air France-KLM, but must be voted on by shareholders at the general meeting scheduled on July 7
Summary of the new findings based on recovered FDR/CFR:
At this stage of the investigation, as an addition to the BEA interim reports of 2 July and 17 December 2009, the following new facts have been established:
Accident to the Airbus A330-203
flight AF 447 on 1st June 2009
Update on Investigation
(1219 KB PDF)