Airbus A380 has hitch with escape slides: report

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

BERLIN (AFP) — Airbus' A380 super jumbo, the world's largest passenger aircraft, has encountered problems with its inflatable escape slides, the Internet site of the Germany weekly Stern reported Saturday.

The escape slides had to be revised after just a few flights, the magazine said, citing reports from clients of the European aircraft maker.

It quoted an Airbus spokesman confirming that there had been a problem.

The explosive charges meant to inflate the slides in just a few seconds during an emergency evacuation were deteriorating over time and becoming unusable, said the report.

During an emergency, 16 slides, manufactured by the US group BF Goodrich, are meant to inflate within 90 seconds. The slides also serve as floats to carry passengers who...