But with the debris metallurgists can distinguish between parts which were damaged in the tyre burst and airborne fire and those which were damaged by the crash and subsequent fire. The main scientific and engineering expertise applied is metallurgy and forensic chemistry, as well as previous experience in the field. The preliminary report has done little to add to what was stated on 16 August, when Concorde's certificates of airworthiness were withdrawn, grounding the entire fleet. This statement has been reinforced by study carried out since then. Other new material, like the communications between the pilots and with air traffic control, have simply fleshed out what was already know in lesser detail, without changing any established facts or theories.
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