The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will propose an Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandating that 200 Airbus A330/A340 aircraft currently fitted with older Thales pitot probes be fitted with at least two pitot tube made by Goodrich, allowing a maximum of one Thales BA type probe to remain fitted on the aircraft.

Each Airbus jetliner is equipped with three of the airspeed indications and the older Thales probe of the type AA will have to be replaced with either the newer Thales pitot tube or ones made by the rival U.S. aerospace firm.

EASA's proposed AD is intended as a precautionary measure in the wake of the June 1 loss of an Air France Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 aboard. The accident remains under investigation, but air safety investigators found through automated maintenance data transmissions sent from the doomed aircraft that the Thales pilot tubes on the ill-fated jetliner had not worked properly as the airliner traveled through a severe storm over the Atlantic Ocean.

EASA said the AD, with further details that are still being elaborated, is expected to be published within the next two weeks. Air France and other airlines, including several U.S. air carriers, have already voluntarily swapped out the older Thales pitot tubes. Airbus said that 800 of the 1,000 A330s and A340 flying today are already operated exclusively with pitot tubes made by Goodrich.

The proposed AD, which is supported by Airbus, are based on pitot probe performance data that EASA has analyzed in recent weeks. EASA spokesman Daniel Hoeltgen is quoting as saying that technical analysis and information received on the performance of the different types of probes indicates that the Goodrich probes are more reliable.

At issue is whether Thales and Goodyear can produce the required replacement items in a timely manner so airline schedules aren't disrupted. Officials at Thales, the French defense and electronic systems giant, couldn't be reached for comment. A Goodrich spokeswoman in Charlotte, NC, said the company is ready to support its customers.

Meanwhile, an Air France flight from Rome to Paris on July 13 briefly lost its air speed readings due to faulty sensors, disclosed Air France pilots. And the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate three other incidents where pilot tube malfunctions on Airbus jetliners are suspected.

The top pilots' union at Air France demanded that the older Thales pitot tubes be replaced by Goodrich models across the airline's fleet. The union said the Goodrich-made pitot tubes have been problem-free.