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Airbus' flight safety department in France has issued new safety recommendations to Airbus operators in light of the Air New Zealand A320 crash off France in November.
French authorities investigating the crash have recovered some details from the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, but the cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
Five New Zealanders and two Germans died when the Airbus plunged into the Mediterranean near the southern French city of Perpignan.
The remains of four of the New Zealanders - Jeremy Cook, Brian Horrell, Michael Gyles and Noel Marsh - were returned home on Tuesday.
The body of the fifth, Murray White, is still missing.
The three-year-old Airbus A320 was on final acceptance flights and was due to be handed back to Air New Zealand after a two-year charter to the German company XL Airways. It had just been repainted in Air New Zealand livery.
It plunged into the sea apparently after a power surge caused it to climb steeply and then dive.
As a result of the investigation's preliminary work and without prejudging the outcome of the investigation, the aircraft manufacturer's flight safety department in France yesterday issued new recommendations to Airbus operators.
It said during painting and maintenance, it was important to protect all aerodynamic data sensors.
It has also said that tests such as low speed tests "must be performed at safe altitude and be preceded by a recall of basic rules as regards to minimum speeds and recovery actions".
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe yesterday welcomed the recommendations.
He said the airline already followed the recommendations and had not experienced any issues in relation to either of the requirements outlined.
"The bulletin from Airbus is a precautionary measure intended to remind operators of existing manufacturer recommendations. Safety is paramount and non-negotiable for Air New Zealand and it is part of our normal operating procedures to always adhere to all manufacturer directives."
Mr Fyfe said it was important that Airbus had issued the statement.
However, it was also important the information was not taken as a prejudgment of the outcome of the official investigations, he said.
"As I have said previously, any speculation as to the outcome of that investigation into the flight operated by XL Airways of Germany would be premature and inappropriate."
Air New Zealand fleet and operational specialists are to due return to France this weekend to provide further expertise to the investigation.
- NZPA
