New Delhi, Jan. 12:
The six Boeing 787 aircraft in the Air India fleet are operating
normally and are not being pulled out of service, amidst reports of the newest
civilian aircraft facing problems in the fleet of other international airlines.
In the last few weeks, there have been incidents, including an
electrical fire, a brake problem and a fuel spill involving the Boeing 787
aircraft at various airports around the world.
Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft, however, have not been involved in any
of the reported incidents.
The incidents globally have prompted the American Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787
critical systems, including its design, manufacture and assembly.
In a statement, the FAA said the purpose of the review was to validate
the work conducted during the certification process and ensure that the aircraft
met the FAA level of safety.
A team of FAA and Boeing engineers and inspectors will conduct the
review, with emphasis on the aircraft’s electrical power and distribution
system.
The review is expected to begin in Seattle, but may expand to other
locations, the FAA added.
“Air India is alert to the situation and watching the developments for
directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and FAA on what
steps, if any, need to be taken,” a senior airline official said.
The six aircraft are used to operate regular domestic flights to
Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, apart from connecting India with Dubai,
Frankfurt and Paris.
A senior DGCA official said the regulator would wait for a report from
the FAA and National Transport Safety Board before taking a view on whether any
instructions need to be issued to Air India for making any changes on their
Boeing 787 aircraft.
In a statement, Boeing said that 787 was a “safe and efficient airplane
which has logged 50,000 hours of flight and there are more than 150 flights
occurring daily”.
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