DGCA Orders Enhanced Safety Inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Following the deadly AI-171 Ahmedabad plane crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to conduct intense safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet. The regulator has cleared that there is no immediate grounding of the aircraft, but has mandated a series of additional maintenance checks to be carried out on the B787-8/9 aircraft. These checks are aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers, and are a response to the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 241 people.
Key Takeaways:
- The DGCA has directed Air India to conduct enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet, following the fatal Ahmedabad plane crash.
- The inspections are to be carried out on B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines, with immediate effect.
- The safety checks include inspection of fuel parameter monitoring and associated system checks, cabin air compressor, electronic engine control-system test, engine fuel driven actuator-operational test and oil system check, serviceability check of hydraulic system, and review of take-off parameters.
- Air India has been directed to submit the reports of these checks to the DGCA for review.
- The incident occurred on a Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner, bound for London from Ahmedabad, which was carrying 242 people, including crew members.
- The crash claimed the lives of 241 people, with one passenger miraculously escaping and being admitted to a hospital with injuries.
Statistics:
- The DGCA has directed Air India to conduct enhanced safety inspections of its 787 fleet.
- The inspections are to be carried out on 40 B787-8/9 aircraft equipped with Genx engines.
- The fuel parameter monitoring and associated system checks are to be performed on each of the 40 aircraft immediately.
- The electronic engine control-system test is a critical safety check mandated by the DGCA.
- The serviceability check of hydraulic system is essential to ensure the safety of the aircraft.
- The review of take-off parameters is crucial to prevent future incidents like the AI-171 Ahmedabad plane crash.
Sources:
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) notification - "Enhanced Safety Inspection on Boeing 787-8/9 fleet of M/s Air India"
- Hindustan Times - published online, date not specified.