Originally Posted by pj67coll

I've been looking at an aviation forum where the AF crash has been discussed a lot recently. Frankly the evidence is far to incomplete to indicate what really happened. However there have been a lot of problems associated with faulty speed sensors on Airbus planes recently, far more than on Boeing although there was one incident on a Boeing recently.

I had no idea just how little margin for error there is at high altitudes. FL350 etc. The coffin corner it's called. If the plane goes to fast or to slow at that height it becomes aerodynamically unstable and extreme buffetting occurs, similar to severe turbulence. I'm paraphrasing here but I'm no expert.

If a plane is too weak such buffetting can cause it to break apart. As I've pointed out three Airbuses lost their tails, or portions of their tails and there is concern that composite technology is not yet mature enough to handle the stresses concerned. Or that Airbus is not implementing it properly.

As I've said, while I'm aware Boeing has it's share of problems structural integrity does not appear to be one of them.

- Peter.