Airlines all over the world are being warned to check to make sure theres actually oxygen in their aircraft oxygen systems after an embarrassing mix-up by Qantas Airlines at Melbourne International Airport. For ten months, crews have been filling airliner oxygen systems from a nitrogen cart thats supposed to be used to fill tires. The mistake went unnoticed until a couple of weeks ago when an observant aircraft engineer spotted service workers using the cart. “He was walking around the plane and asked what they were doing. When they said they were topping up the oxygen, he said, ‘No you’re not, that’s a nitrogen cart,'” an unnamed source told The Age. As anyone who works with industrial gases knows, oxygen tanks have different fittings than other gases to prevent exactly this kind of mix-up. However, when the crews discovered the fittings on what they thought was their new oxygen cart didnt fit, they swapped them for the ones on the old cart they were retiring. Of course, Australian officials are looking into the error and Qantas has been busy notifying other airlines that use its services in Melbourne. Hundreds of aircraft may be affected.
Nitrogen Used To Fill Aircraft Oxygen Systems
Key Takeaways:
- Qantas crews at Melbourne Airport mistakenly filled aircraft oxygen systems with nitrogen instead of oxygen for ten months.
- The error occurred because crews swapped fittings from an old oxygen cart to a new nitrogen cart, mistakenly believing the new cart was for oxygen.
- An observant engineer discovered the long-standing mix-up, prompting an official investigation and warnings to other airlines potentially affected by the hundreds of aircraft involved.
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