Metallic debris is found on a beach in Saint-Denis on the French Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, Aug 2, 2015. Police collected the mangled piece of metal inscribed with two Chinese characters "Yi Xing" and attached to what appears to be a leather-covered handle. (Photo/Agencies)
The piece of aircraft debris found near La Reunion Island and confirmed as part of a Boeing 777 has arrived in France for analysis.
Q: Who will do the tests?
A: The debris will be analyzed by experts at the Aeronautical Technologies Center of the General Directorate of Armament (DGA), an organ of the French Defense Ministry. It is located in Toulouse's eastern suburb of Balma and has about 600 staff members.
Q: What qualifies the facility?
A: According to the website of the center, one of its main tasks is to conduct technical investigations into airplane accidents and analyze materials, airframe, airfoil and others.
The laboratory is also able to analyze the mechanical characteristics of structures in static, fatigue and dynamic states and track aircraft fleets in service.
Founded in 1949 and known as the Flight Test Center in Toulouse before 2010, the facility has been a major ground test center in Europe for civil and military aircraft.
Q: Has it participated in other air crash probes?
A: Yes. The lab analyzed multiple pieces of debris in the 2009 AF447 crash investigation. The Air France flight crashed in mid-Atlantic on June 1, 2009, en route from Rio to Paris, killing 228 people on board. The final report said human and technical errors were behind the tragedy.
