Thales clarifies Angle Of Attack’ (AOA) probes

Posted by- Neelam Mathews
Dec 19, 2012

Thales has issued the following clarifications regarding the ‘Angle Of Attack’ (AOA) probes that equip Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft following the airworthiness directives issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on December 4th and 17th.
Here goes-
Thales wishes to make the following clarifications-
- The EASA directives regard the removal of the conic plates that equip the AOA probes, they do not concern the probes themselves.
- EASA has demanded the removal of the conic plates that protect the probes; the Agency has not demanded the removal of the Thales-manufactured probes themselves.
- Thales supplies the AOA probes alone and is not responsible for the probe’s conic plates.
- Contrary to initial assertions made by certain media articles, Thales is not the supplier of the probes equipped on the A330 of the Asian carrier, which experienced the event that caused the EASA to issue this directive.