Aviation regulator forms panel to look into Dreamliner issues

New Delhi, Jan. 16:  

The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formed a committee to look into issues connected with the Boeing 787 aircraft, popularly known as the Dreamliner, even as Air India has no immediate plans to ground the six aircraft in operation.

The decision to form the committee was taken after reports of two airlines in Japan — ANA and Japan Airlines — grounding their entire fleet of Boeing 787 after an emergency landing was made in that country following problems with a battery.

The Boeing 787, which is the latest civilian aircraft in service globally, has been facing problems with some airlines.

Speaking to newspersons here on Wednesday, Director-General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra said that a report from Boeing was expected on the incident later on Wednesday evening.

“If there is anything (in the report) then we will have to go into it. There is no immediate need to ground the Boeing 787 with Air India. If it is very serious, we can consider grounding the fleet. The problems that were initially faced by Air India with the Boeing 787 have been sorted out,” he said.

The DGCA added that a Boeing report showed that the decision to ground the B787 had been taken by the airlines and not by the aviation regulators in various countries globally. “The FAA is doing a complete study of the electrical systems. They are the ones who have given an air worthiness certificate to this aircraft. It is their primary job to see all this. Since the aircraft are flying in India, we will like to be satisfied about their safety systems inside the aircraft,” he added.

Air India has ordered 27 Boeing 787 aircraft. At present, the six aircraft with the airline are used to operate regular flights from Delhi to Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata, apart from connecting Paris, Frankfurt and Dubai.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/aviation-regulator-forms-panel-to-look-into-dreamliner-issues/article4313809.ece