Airbus and the FAA are at odds. The FAA (after the crash of TWA 800) mandated special fuel tanks to eliminate in-sky explosions, a good idea in theory. Airbus are complaining that this ought not apply to them in an article in today’s USA Today. Obviously, that’s a ploy by Airbus to save weight, which will in turn save money. There are many ways to cut corners on an aircraft — some good, some bad. The fuel tank is not a great place to cut corners. Obviously, Airbus has no concerns about the safety of their planes: okay, that isn’t true. They are worried about more delays, more cost overruns, and more embarrassment. However, this is not a good idea. Don’t fly Airbus and especially not the A380.