{"id":4557,"date":"2015-02-11T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T15:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=4557"},"modified":"2017-09-24T18:20:32","modified_gmt":"2017-09-24T14:20:32","slug":"old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/4557\/","title":{"rendered":"How safe is it to fly on an old aircraft?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At times, aerophobes make you wonder. Some of them do not admit their fear of flying, but as soon as they are on board and seated, they start frantically Googling the tail number in order to find out when the aircraft was produced and where it flew throughout its lifetime. And then \u2014 Twitter time: \u201cJust boarded the plane which is older than me! #shock #mayhem #doom\u201d or \u201cI pray to the Lord this thing does not fall apart while airborne\u201d. In some cases, such passengers would just stay on the solid ground.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/02\/05111844\/Planes-1-1024x768.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7455\" src=\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/02\/05111844\/Planes-1-1024x768.png\" alt=\"How safe is it to fly on an old aircraft?\" width=\"1067\" height=\"800\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One could recall all these forum inquiries: \u201cI\u2019m flying XYZ Airlines, who knows how new their fleet is?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In their marketing materials, both airlines and travel agencies sometimes try to exploit common aerophobe beliefs by either stating they have \u2018the youngest fleet ever\u2019 or ranging the airline offers by age of aircrafts.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Another note, the plane I'm on is like super old. I don't have a fear of flying but this concerns me just a tad. Just a tad\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 K.L (@heyKayElle) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/heyKayElle\/status\/340299535194681345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">May 31, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Logical fallacy<\/h3>\n<p>There is simple reasoning behind this misinterpretation: many would think an aircraft is just the same as a car. Allegedly, a car is at its best when it is brand new, and \u2018acceptable\u2019 if it is no older than 5 to 7 years old. A 20-year-old wreck of a car would serve only as a means of sheep transportation somewhere in the countryside.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/armpit_nation\/status\/560096008709734400<\/p>\n<p>But even with cars, this logic has its flaws: a new taxi car might be totally done in just three years of service, whereas an old \u2018Beettle\u2019 Volkswagen might look like it was just out of the production line \u2014 of course, provided the owner stored it in a garage and used it only for occasional short trips. Not to mention\u00a0retro car aficionados who would wipe single spots of dust off\u00a0their car\u2019s shiny hood.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, an aircraft is a power horse which works all days: airlines seek ways to maximally load their airplanes to ensure faster ROI. But does that mean that an aircraft is the same as a\u00a0taxi and turns into a boneshaker in several years? Don\u2019t panic!<\/p>\n<h3>Service time is the key<\/h3>\n<p>In terms of aviation, airworthiness is defined by the remaining service life, measured in years, flight hours and quantity of takeoffs and landings, each of them assessed independently. This is why some aircrafts can quickly become overaged, due to frequent flights on shorter distances.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-pullquote\"><p>If an aircraft is authorized to operate, it is as safe as you could imagine<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkas.pr%2FEDA5&amp;text=If+an+aircraft+is+authorized+to+operate%2C+it+is+as+safe+as+you+could+imagine\" class=\"btn btn-twhite\" data-lang=\"en\" data-count=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Tweet<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<p>The very term \u2018service life\u2019 can be applied in different scenarios. There is design service life limit: this is the minimal duration of \u2018life expectancy\u2019 attributed to a concrete model of an aircraft by its designers. In other words, it is similar to warranty: a 1-year warranty means that your new TV set would not break during the first year in operation. That said, the appliance might work perfectly for 2, 5, or even 10 years without a single failure (and in most cases it does).<\/p>\n<p>Another type of \u2018service life limit\u2019 is assigned service life limit until\u00a0discarding. It is defined by\u00a0launching a quantity of certain type of aircrafts. A thorough assessment of their condition after a given time of operation allows estimating the duration of elapsed non-failure operation period.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" type=\"text\/html\" width=\"640\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x_yHtfGH0nI?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>As a rule, the assigned service time limit is two or three times longer than the design service time limit. The expiration of the assigned service time limit does not render the aircraft inoperable. Upon careful examination of the aircraft\u2019s condition, the assigned service life limit of a certain aircraft may be prolonged after the complete overhauling, or O\/H.<\/p>\n<h3>Regular maintenance<\/h3>\n<p>The periods in between overhauling times are strictly regulated. There are concepts of the so-called first overhaul period and\u00a0of time between overhauls (TBO). In some cases, components which are completely operable are replaced by new ones, just due to the regulations imposed by the producer. TBO periods may also be prolonged on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">No used life-limited part should be installed on aircraft unless history of part demonstrates that the time in service has not been exceeded<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Aero Maintenance (@AeroMaintenance) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AeroMaintenance\/status\/286564055618027520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">January 2, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It may seem there are obvious profits for an airline in continuous prolongation of assigned service time limits or TBOs in divine providence.<\/p>\n<p>It cannot go on forever, though, as there are certain limits applicable to each of the service time parameters. Once they are reached, the service time limits are absolutely impossible to prolong, even when an aircraft is still in excellent condition.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the main thing is that all service times and limits are defined by aviation regulators and not by airlines themselves. No airline would permit admission to an aircraft with expired service time limits. All of them are included in the airworthiness certificate, and should it be void, the penalty would be extremely severe.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">FAA proposes airworthiness directive for Boeing 787 Dreamliner<a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/wunzufZ2GU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">http:\/\/t.co\/wunzufZ2GU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Airline Gossip (@airlinegossip) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/airlinegossip\/status\/538025368998137856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">November 27, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Trust the aces<\/h3>\n<p>Actually, there is no concept of an \u2018old aircraft\u2019 in terms of aviation: it is either operable or inoperable. If it is authorized to operate, it is as safe as an absolutely new airplane just out of the assembly line.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">There is no concept of an \u2018old aircraft\u2019 in terms of aviation: it is either operable or inoperable. If it is authorized to operate, it is as safe as an absolutely new airplane<\/div>\n<p>In the unlikely case you have a complete distrust of aviation specialists (silly, yet feasible), we would like to point out at least one reasonable conclusion: You cannot thoroughly analyze the condition of an aircraft; there are things you are simply unable to Google on your own.<\/p>\n<p>The interior of the plane catches one\u2019s attention when flying an old aircraft. Peeled seat fabric, unstable overhead compartments, loose tilt tables would make for an unpleasant flying experience.<\/p>\n<p>However, these imperfections don\u2019t contribute to even the worse flight safety. Also, good airlines would regularly repair and upgrade their interior.<\/p>\n<p>Curiously, many aircrafts whose service time limit is soon expiring are not revamped from the inside, as it is not efficient in terms of economics. Instead, they are used as cargo aircrafts, perfectly operable for another several years. If you are\u00a0curious enough, you can Google how old is the plane in the tweet below. And it\u2019s still flying.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FedEx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">@FedEx<\/a> MD-10, registration N319FE, barrels down runway 15L at IAH, bound for Memphis.  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AvGeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">#AvGeek<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/U2ytJhMDd1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/U2ytJhMDd1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Astro95 Media (@Astro95Media) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Astro95Media\/status\/563890932777365504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">February 7, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many would see an aircraft just the way they see a car: should it be 15 or 20 years old, it is automatically perceived as obsolete. This reasoning is misleading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":540,"featured_media":4558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[613,924,927,925,926],"class_list":{"0":"post-4557","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tips","8":"tag-advice-2","9":"tag-aircrafts","10":"tag-aviation","11":"tag-flight-safety","12":"tag-service-life"},"hreflang":[{"hreflang":"en-ae","url":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/4557\/"},{"hreflang":"en-in","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.in\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/4609\/"},{"hreflang":"en-us","url":"https:\/\/usa.kaspersky.com\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/5126\/"},{"hreflang":"ru","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.ru\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/6899\/"},{"hreflang":"x-default","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/7451\/"},{"hreflang":"ja","url":"https:\/\/blog.kaspersky.co.jp\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/6863\/"},{"hreflang":"ru-kz","url":"https:\/\/blog.kaspersky.kz\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/6899\/"},{"hreflang":"en-au","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com.au\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/7451\/"},{"hreflang":"en-za","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.za\/blog\/old-aircrafts-as-safe-as-new\/7451\/"}],"acf":[],"banners":"","maintag":{"url":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/tag\/advice-2\/","name":"advice"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/540"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6409,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557\/revisions\/6409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}