Eight of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787 aircraft have so far been inspected following the directive issued Friday by aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for enhanced safety inspection of the aircraft type, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said Saturday.
The minister, however, did not elaborate on the checks. A senior government official told The Indian Express that the inspections so far have not revealed any issue or adverse observation. Later, Air India said it has completed the mandated checks on nine of the 33 aircraft.
The DGCA’s directive had come a day after an Air India 787-8 aircraft crashed moments after take-off from the Ahemdabad airport. The aircraft was operating a flight between Ahemdabad and London Gatwick and had 242 people on board. All but one of those on board perished in the crash. There were several casualties on the ground as well.
“As a preventive measure DGCA, hereby direct M/S Air India to carry out following additional maintenance actions on B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines with immediate effect in coordination with the concerned regional DGCA offices,” the DGCA order said, listing a number of technical checks. Air India had a total of 34 Boeing 787 aircraft before the Ahemdabad crash. Now it has 26 787-8 aircraft and seven 787-9 planes.
These enhanced checks include a one-time pre-departure check of aircraft systems and parameters including fuel parameters monitoring and associated system, cabin air compressor and associated systems, electronic engine control system, engine fuel driven actuator and oil system, hydraulic system serviceability, and take-off parameters.
Additionally, flight control inspection is to be introduced in transit inspection till further notice. Power assurance checks have also been mandated.
Air India Saturday issued a statement, saying it is in the process of completing the one-time safety checks directed by the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA. “These checks are being carried out on the Boeing 787 fleet as they return to India, before being cleared for their next operations. Air India has completed such checks on nine of the Boeing 787 aircraft and are on track to complete this process for the remaining 24 aircraft within the timeline provided by the regulator. Some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes especially those to airports with operating curfews. Customers will be duly notified about any delays,” the statement read.
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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, while the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would also be involved in the detailed probe, given that the aircraft is manufactured by an American company—Boeing—and was manufactured in the US. A UK AAIB team is also going to help with the investigation, and so are Boeing and other major component manufacturers like GE (engine manufacturer). According to aircraft accident investigation protocol, the probe report should be finalised within a year.
