On Twitter I follow a number of the Flightglobal publishing journalists, including Will Norton who specifically writers about Asian and Oceania aviation issues.
It now seems that a Japenesse seat manufacturer by the name of Koito has faked FAA required seat safety tests results. As a result the FAA have issued an Airworthiness Directive yesterday stating that all seats must be replaced in a two year time frame.
The list of arines caught by this include both VA and VS along with CX, SQ and CO to mention a few. Norton's article focuses on the impact of VA who will have to replace the seats on 4 of 5 of their 77Ws. Interestingly VA state it takes 19-22 months to complete a retrofit (presumably of their fleet) meaning they will have to in effect start the process in the next month or so. With a list of over twenty carriers including a lot of the big boys in Asia (and a380s) there is now talk of an aircraft seati g shortage and then there is the huge issues of the IFE systems within those seats. See here for the list complied in Feb before the FAA issued the directive: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/runwa ... rator.html
Apparently both the 744 and 340 fleets of VS are caught by this. I would imagine it's the older aircraft as IIRC Recaro are used in Y on the newer aircraft and of course Contour (who VS sued) designed the UCS in partnership with VS.
I fear this could have a huge impact on the LGW retrofit. If there is a shortage of seats in the first place but also because VS will have to prioritise those aircraft with the seats the FAA need to be replaced.
It now seems that a Japenesse seat manufacturer by the name of Koito has faked FAA required seat safety tests results. As a result the FAA have issued an Airworthiness Directive yesterday stating that all seats must be replaced in a two year time frame.
The list of arines caught by this include both VA and VS along with CX, SQ and CO to mention a few. Norton's article focuses on the impact of VA who will have to replace the seats on 4 of 5 of their 77Ws. Interestingly VA state it takes 19-22 months to complete a retrofit (presumably of their fleet) meaning they will have to in effect start the process in the next month or so. With a list of over twenty carriers including a lot of the big boys in Asia (and a380s) there is now talk of an aircraft seati g shortage and then there is the huge issues of the IFE systems within those seats. See here for the list complied in Feb before the FAA issued the directive: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/runwa ... rator.html
Apparently both the 744 and 340 fleets of VS are caught by this. I would imagine it's the older aircraft as IIRC Recaro are used in Y on the newer aircraft and of course Contour (who VS sued) designed the UCS in partnership with VS.
I fear this could have a huge impact on the LGW retrofit. If there is a shortage of seats in the first place but also because VS will have to prioritise those aircraft with the seats the FAA need to be replaced.