CATHAY Pacific Airways has made emergency repairs to three of its ageing Lockheed L-1011 TriStars after finding cracks which could weaken the aircraft frames.
The cracks were detected during mandatory inspections called for by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in an emergency airworthiness directive issued late last month.
The mandate came following reports that cracking had been found in part of the fuselage assembly of at least 20 TriStars in service around the world.
Six of Cathay's 13 TriStars had been inspected to date, and half were found to have developed tiny cracks inside the fuselage below the windows.
No cracks were found in the outer skins.
The airline's engineering director, Roland Fairfield, said the problem frames were reinforced with small pieces of sheet metal, and the aircraft were returned to service.
