duct tape. Heat tape. UPDATED.
Would you fly in a plane with duct tape on its wing? My first answer was, sure, why not. But then, let’s put it this way: If the mechanics left that on plain view, imagine what is hiding elsewhere in that plane. So, to answer the previous question: In a word, no. Would you?
UPDATE: Some readers who are pilots are saying this is heat or speed tape, a much stronger aluminium-based tape approved by the FAA. Salon’s old pilot in residence also says taped up planes are perfectly fine. But would you feel safe flying it? —BL
An Emirates’ captain writes in with his verdict on the fly or no fly:
“I fly aeroplanes all the time with duct tape on it. We do that for years”
Obviously, he’s referring to the heat tape.—JD
Ryan Lawson
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 6:44 AMif its good enough for miles and Lepidus… its good enough for me
Shane
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 9:21 AMGiven the issues with patch plates, I’d have more faith in the tape, if only from an inspection point of view – it must be easier (and cheaper) to pull the tape then to have to un-rivet a patch plate…
(I watch my to much Air Crash Investigations :P)
Bern
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 11:25 AMAnd if you’re at all concerned about flying with this (a flexible patch chemically bonded to the aluminium skin – you can see they even cleaned the surface before applying it), then you will *really* not want to fly in a 787, if they ever get into service…
Nato
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 12:17 PMProblem is Miles was fixing hydraulics with duct tape but I didn’t see them replacing the hydraulic fluid which is vital as well as its not strong enough for hydraulics.
Ben
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 1:54 PMAustralia F111 fighters have got Boron fiber patches on them that are older than the pilots flying them.
John
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 10:39 AMIf enough passengers complain about the use of tape (heat, speed, duct or otherwise) the airlines will be forced to use Scotch Invisible Tape ; )