Concorde tests new tyres

Air France Concorde takes off during Tuesday's tests

PARIS, France -- An Air France Concorde fitted with newly designed tyres flew to a military base in southern France to undergo air and ground tests.

The delta-winged jet left Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Tuesday without passengers for the 50-minute supersonic flight to the base in Istres, near the southern port city of Marseille.

The tests, which are part of Air France's plans to return its prestigious plane to commercial travel after the accident last year in which 113 people died, follow earlier practice flights.

Air France tested a Concorde during a three-hour round trip from Paris last week following an overhaul including extensive maintenance.

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The latest tests, expected to last two to three days, are designed to check new Michelin-designed tyres.

A thin metal trip is believed to have ripped a Concorde tyre scattering debris that ruptured underwing fuel tanks, triggering the fatal crash last July.

It led to authorities grounding both Air France and British Airways' remaining 12 Concorde planes for commercial flights.

Ground tests

France's civil aviation authority (DGAC) has granted Concorde a month-long permit, which expires on May 10, to perform ground and flight tests.

A British-French working group reported encouraging results last month on tests of the new tyre.

Engineers are also working on new methods to protect the fuel tank from punctures.

An Air France Concorde flew to Istres earlier this year for a series of ground tests.

Before authorising both flights, France's civil aviation authority set conditions that included a "detailed inspection of the runway and taxi areas." Neither British Airways nor Air France, who want to return the plane to commercial flights, has set a date for the resumption of flights.

Both have said the timetable depends on how long it takes to modify the aircraft, but they hope to return the Concorde to the skies later this year.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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January 18, 2001
Concorde flight gets green light
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DGAC
Air France
EADS
British Airways

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