[Aircraft Recovery and the Airbus A380: A Case Study of Emirates]

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, and peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

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ABSTRACT

This qualitative, explorative case study examines numerous aspects of aircraft recovery and the Airbus A380, particularly concerns relating to the physical act of recovering a failed or disabled aircraft from the runway or other area of failure. During the study, the researcher conducted two faux interviews. One faux interview was with Malcolm Brown, Chairman, IATA Aircraft Recovery Task Force, and Manager. Base Operational Maintenance and Aircraft Recovery Emirates Airlines, Brown points out a number of considerations that transpire when an aircraft becomes disabled. In the attempt to counter the dearth of information regarding statistics in this area, the researcher submitted eight email queries requesting statistical information relating Emirates aircraft recovery team. Responses primarily proved to be negative, as the researcher was not able to secure specific statistics. Aircraft recovery, an integral part of the planning of all airlines' operations, traditionally refers to the entire process of rescuing a failed or disabled aircraft and placing that particular aircraft back into service. Two main objectives exist in regard to recovering failed or disabled aircraft. This study relates those objectives amidst a number of other factors relating to aircraft recovery.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT4

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION7

1.1.Study Background7

1.2. Significance of the Research10

1.3. Study Area11

1.4. Study Hypothesis12

1.5. Dissertation Structure13

1.6. Aims and Objectives16

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW18

2.1.Introduction18

2.2.Literature Reviews19

2.3.Recovering Failed or Disabled Aircraft23

2.4.Types of Aircraft Recovery26

2.5.Means of Aircraft Recovery29

2.6.Malcolm Brown Interview32

2.7.Emirates Interview with Carla Sullivan42

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY53

3.1.Introduction53

3.2.Exploratory Research54

3.3.Explanatory/Descriptive Research55

3.4.Predictive Research55

3.5.Research Strategies56

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS59

4.1. Introduction59

4.2.Cost Considerations60

4.3.Aircraft Progression60

CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION69

5.1. Introduction69

5.2. Discussion69

5.3. Conclusions74

5.4. Recommendations77

BIBLIOGRAPHY78

APPENDIX83

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Aircraft Recovery in Progress (Beyond the Piano Keys… 2008, p. 54)12

Figure 2: R2S (Responder Knowledge Base 2009) 1828

Figure 3: Emirates Engineering Support Network (Emirates Engineering 2009)30

Figure 4: Emirates Engineering Organizational Chart (Emirates Engineering 2009)31

Figure 5: HU-16 Grumman Albatross (Military Factory 2009, HU-16 Grumman section)50

Figure 6: The Boeing HC-97G Stratocruiser (Boeing HC-97G. N.d.)51

Figure 7: Factors in Aircraft Recovery (adapted from Lequeu & Warner 2007)60

Figure 8: Cockpit of KC-97L 53-0200 (Lockett 2007)61

Figure 9: Nose Section of a C-97 (Lockett 2007)61

Figure 10: A dozen photos of Boeing C-97 Stratofreighters and Stratotankers (Lockett 2007)62

Figure 11: Comparing 1999 and 2006 Aircraft Accidents (adapted from “Air Safety through…” 2005)65

Figure 12: Some of the “Old Workhorse” Aircraft (Adapted from Military Factory 2009)67

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

Study Background

“Unlike the normal maintenance and servicing tasks of an aircraft, which are tried and tested from start to finish, aircraft recovery has so many variables”

- Malcolm Brown, Chairman, IATA Aircraft Recovery Task Force… (Beyond the piano keys… 2008, ...