Airports on safety alert over superjets

HEATHROW and other major world airports are tackling wholesale safety reviews on fears over potential hazards if lighter-weight, fuel-efficient jets are involved in accidents.

The giant Airbus A380, slated to start flying in 2006, and Boeing's 7E7, in 2008, will be largely made out of 'composites'.

The carbon-fibre compounds enable aircraft to be environmentally friendly in terms of noise and fuel consumption, but safety experts say not enough is known about what happens to the pieces after a crash.

Australian airport officials, who will be dealing with the first flights of the A380 by Singapore Airlines, say composites may, on shattering, send plumes of minute, lethal shards which could damage lungs and pierce protective clothing.

Heathrow is reviewing safety 'tactics and techniques'. Boeing says fears are 'exaggerated'.