• Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-941 (2)
    Singapore Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    SQ/SIA
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Singapore Changi Airport
    Year Founded:
    1972
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Goh Choon Phong
    Country:
    Singapore

The arrival of wasps has spoiled many a pleasant picnic or day in the garden. They create havoc and can be deadly, particularly if they find temporary accommodation in the pitot tubes of an airliner, as has happened at Australia's Brisbane Airport.

On Friday, the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) released a preliminary report into just such an incident. While no wasps were involved, the precautions to keep them out of the pitot tubes could have had catastrophic effects on the Singapore Airlines jet two minutes from pushback. In short, the two engineers servicing the Airbus A350-941, registration 9V-SHH, had not removed the pitot tube covers, although the airliner was about to depart. A refueller on another aircraft saw the threat and altered the senior engineer, and the covers were removed in time, averting any potential danger.

Twice in 4 years is not a good look

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330
In 2018 a Malaysia Airlines A330 departed Brisbane Airport with the covers still attached to the pitot tubes. Photo: Getty Images

In the report, the ATSB said its ongoing investigation would include examining seven human factors. These include pre-flight inspection procedures for flight crews and engineers, induction training, and fatigue management. The ATSB will likely focus on mitigating the chance of this happening again. However, this was already a repeat of an identical incident with a Malaysia Airlines flight in July 2018, except that Airbus A330 took off with the covers in place. Given the prevalence of wasps in the airport environment, the pitot covers must go on, so there's always a chance, however small, that they might not come off in time.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BNE) has gone to the root cause, the wasps, and proactively implemented a program to reduce their presence. The airport has developed an Integrated Vegetation Management program that has delivered a 64% reduction in wasp activity at the Domestic and International terminals after treatment. As the program's name implies, the airport has looked into the vegetation attracting hordes of wasps and says it has reduced those food sources by 94% since the program started. Head of airside operations at Brisbane Airport Corporation, Peter Dunlop, said:

"The research into these wasps being done by Brisbane Airport is helping airports around the world. We've also suggested to aircraft manufacturers they investigate design changes to make components less attractive to nesting wasps."

Flight on the ground in Brisbane
A nearby aircraft refueling employee noticed the pitot tube covers minutes before pushback. Photo: Brisbane Airport Corporation, annotated by the ATSB

Brisbane Airport is being proactive about wasps

So, in simple terms, the airport wants to take away the tasty snacks and the comfortable homes the wasps nest in. These Mud Wasps were first identified around Brisbane in 2010 and are a well-known hazard at the airport. One of the first tasks an engineer does on an in-transit aircraft is to install the pitot tube covers, and conversely, it's one of the last jobs when the plane is about to push back.

The engineer notes in the technical log that the tube covers are installed and places a warning placard on the flight deck engine control pedestal as well. As happened in this event, the engineer then removed the warning placard when certifying the log for the transit check and noted that the covers were removed.

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Insect infestation of pitot tubes is a worldwide issue, particularly in hot and humid locations like Brisbane. The detailed research BNE has undertaken on mud wasps, and their nesting habits has given aviation a thorough understanding of the risks they pose to safe operations. In a classic example of how the aviation industry is open and sharing, Brisbane has assisted Honolulu Airport (HNL) and authorities in the Pacific nations of Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

The procedures are already in place to ensure covers are removed, so what can regulators do to make that happen?