Dreamliners bring AI reason to cheer

Sale, leaseback of aircraft fetch Air India $150 mn funds to be used to partly repay bridge loan

Even as instances of technical snags in Boeing Dreamliners are reported from across the world, Air India has made $150 million through the sale and leaseback of the six Boeing-787s delivered to it in the last four and a half months.

In 2005, the state-owned carrier had placed an order for the Dreamliners at a price of $90 million an aircraft. Last year, it sold these at an average of $115 million — a profit of $25 million from each aircraft. The funds would be used to partly repay the bridge loan of $695 million it had taken to buy the aircraft. Bridge loans are usually used to meet payment commitments until long-term financing is arranged.

Meanwhile, Air India has scrapped its plan to sell five Boeing 777s, as it couldn’t find buyers for these. The company had planned to sell two Boeing 777 200-LR (long range) aircraft and three Boeing 777 300-ER (extended range) aircraft. It was considering reconfiguring these aircraft (changing the number of seats in each class) to deploy the Boeing 777-200 LR on the Saudi Arabia route and the B777-300 ER on the North America route.

AIR INDIA OPERATIONAL WIDE-BODY FLEET
Wide-body	Fleet details
B-787 Dreamliner	6 sale & leaseback
B-777 -200 LR	8 owned
B-777- 300 ER	12 owned
B-747-400	3 owned + 2 sale & leaseback
A-330-200	2 drylease
Wide-body total	33
Wide-body aircraft is used to fly on long-haul routes Source: Air India website & Ministry of Civil Aviation

Speaking to Business Standard, a senior Air India official said, “We are doing sale and leaseback of Dreamliners on a continual basis. We have been facing no loss of appetite for it among lessors. The reason, in part, is lessors have an assured client — Air India. Moreover, any machine takes time to settle down.”

The company plans to sell all its 27 Dreamliner aircraft to a leasing company and operate these by paying monthly rentals, a common fundraising practice among airlines.

Sale and leaseback deals are considered prudent steps for airlines in a market in which most other sources of funding are fast drying up. Additional loans would add to the burden on Air India’s overleveraged balance sheet. Of its 33 wide-bodied aircraft, 23 are owned by Air India, sale and leasebacks account for eight and two are on dry lease (leased without a crew).

To generate revenue, Indigo, Jet and a few other airlines are increasingly opting for sale and leaseback arrangements.

Of Air India’s bridge loan, as of now, $195 million has been financed by Standard Chartered for two Dreamliners, while $500 million has been financed by a different company. Air India has told its lenders though the bridge loan for a 6-12 month period (covering the entire cost of the aircraft) wouldn’t be covered by government guarantees, the planes would be offered as security.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Ethiopian Airways are among those operating Dreamliners.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/dreamliners-bring-ai-reason-to-cheer/498849/

Ticketing lapse: Air India suspends 2 officials

New Delhi: Days after Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal unearthed a major ticketing lapse, Air India suspended two officials saying "negligence" by its customer service staff resulted in a domestic flight operating with 23 empty seats even when there was a wait-list for the flight.

The airline initiated an internal probe after Venugopal, who was on board a Delhi-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram flight on January 4, saw 23 vacant seats inside while a Kerala minister was denied a seat on grounds of "non-availability".

The junior minister promptly asked Air India to probe the matter.

Following the directive, the airline launched the inquiry and suspended two officials of the customer service department pending its completion.

The probe found that two groups of passengers were supposed to travel by that flight as per the 'summary sheet'. However, one of these groups had not been ticketed though PNR (Passenger Name Record) numbers were issued to them, airline officials said.

The customer service staff only saw the 'summary sheet' but did not pull out the PNRs to check whether tickets had been issued to this group, they said, adding that this led the flight to operate with 23 vacant seats.

Had these staffers checked whether tickets had been issued on the basis of these PNRs, the vacancies would not have existed as this capacity would have been released for bookings and to accommodate waitlisted passengers, the officials said, terming it as "negligence" on part of the staffers concerned.

http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/companies/ticketing-lapse-air-india-suspends-2-officials_68072.html

Fog affects over 160 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport

Dense fog hit operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here affecting over 160 flights, including that of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Khurshid's flight, which was to take-off from Palam Technical area for Bhutan around 9.30 AM, was delayed by two hours due to fog.

Flight operations at the airport came to a standstill for around one-and-half hours, between 5 AM and 6.30 AM, as the runway visibility was less than 50 metres on both the runways, main (28/10) and third (29/11), airport sources said.

Around 130 domestic and international flights were delayed by over three to four hours after dense fog enveloped the airport and visibility become poor while 11 were cancelled.

Also 21 domestic and international flights to Delhi were diverted to Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Nagpur and Lucknow. Of these 11 were diverted to Jaipur, three each to Ahmedabad and Mumbai two to Amritsar and one each to Nagpur and Lucknow.

The flights were diverted as the visibility was less than 50 metres, which is the minimum required visibility for a flight to land using the most advanced Category III B (CAT-IIIB) of the instrument landing system.

According to sources, these flights were diverted as either their crew was not trained to operate in CAT-IIIB conditions or their aircraft were not CAT-IIIB compliant.

"This is in violation of clear cut instructions by the Director General of Civil Aviation to deploy CAT-IIIB compliant aircraft and pilots during the fog season," they said.

Smaller aircraft like turbo prop ATR, Canadian Regional Jets (CRJs) and Bombardier's Q400 turbo prop are not CAT-IIIB complaint, hence not fit to operate in dense fog conditions.

Eight flights coming to Delhi were diverted to Jaipur, Nagpur and Mumbai between 4 AM and 6 AM, when the runway visibility was less than 50 metres. Also no flights took-off between 3.30 AM and 6 AM due to which there was a huge backlog of flights, airport officials said.

An Air India flight, coming from Frankfurt - a Dreamliner - was diverted to Mumbai as the aircraft and crew is not CAT-IIIB rated by the DGCA.

The fog started to descend at the airport around 8 PM last night but it become dense from 11.30 PM. The general visibility and the runway visibility worsened after 2.30 AM when it reduced to less than 50 metres.

As the visibility dropped, the airport authorities implemented low visibility procedures at 9.30 PM last night on third runway and at 2.29 AM on main runway. It was finally lifted around 1 PM today.

During this period, 74 flights operated under CAT-I conditions, 27 in CAT-II and 40 in CAT-IIIA and CAT-IIIB.

A Royal Dutch Airline flight (KLM 872) to Amsterdam was delayed by over 20 hours due to fog and subsequent completion of flight duty time limitations (FDTL) of the crew.

The flight was cleared for take off at 2.30 AM but it had to return from taxiway due to some technical reasons. In the meantime fog enveloped the airport and the visibility dropped to less than 100 metres, and the flight was held up.

When visibility rose above the permissible limit, the FDTL of the crew ended and the flight was rescheduled for departure at 11.45 PM, sources said, adding passengers have been accommodated in hotels.

Airport MeT incharge, R K Jenamani said that very dense fog had formed over IGI between 2:30 AM to 9:30 AM with runway visual range dropping to less than 50 metres on third runway and it was less than 175 metres on main runway which affected the flights badly.

He said the airport is likely to witness the same situation overnight. The visibility is likely to reduce due to fog from 9.30 PM and would be enveloped in very dense fog from 1.30 AM tomorrow morning.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fog-affects-over-160-flights-at-indira-gandhi-international-airport/1059188/0

Civil Aviation Ministry in a fix over renaming Allahabad Airport

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is currently in a fix over renaming the Allahabad Airport.  And the Ajit Singh-headed ministry will have to choose between two monikers -- legendary freedom fighter and three-time Congress president Madan Mohan Malviya and Motilal Nehru, the grand patriarch of the country’s first family.

The proposals were put forward by the respective National Implementation Committees (NIC) set up by the UPA Government to  celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the two leaders. Interestingly, both the committees are headed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh.

Actually, the MoCA was caught in bind after the Union Culture Ministry, through a letter, recently requested it to rename the airport after Motilal, citing the recommendation of the NIC. However, the Civil Aviation secretary wrote back pointing out that MoCA had received a proposal from “similar sources”, to rename the Allahabad Airport after Malviya.  It is learnt that Ajit, who hails from UP, is not keen on either of the two names, although he had managed to get the Lucknow Airport renamed after his father and former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh during the  UPA-I’s Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in 2008, in exchange for his party’s Parliamentary support. The Lucknow Airport had been recently upgraded to an international airport after Ajit took charge of the ministry.

In its reply to the Culture Ministry, MoCA has tried to wriggle out of the situation by saying that it needs to go for “wider consultations”, before renaming the Allahabad airport. It had also said that the Union Cabinet will take a final call on the subject only after it received an approval from the respective state Assemblies. It is, however, learnt that the odds are in favour of renaming the airport after the Nehru-Gandhi family patriarch, since the ruling party is keen on it and Ajit may have to return the favour.   “The  Nehru-Gandhi family patriarch is more important to the incumbent government any day. Our proposal to rename the Allahabad Airport after Malviya has been sidelined as there is a huge push for naming it after Motilal Nehru,” said a member of the NIC set up in connection with Malviya’s birth anniversary.

 According to another source, the Congress Government always adopted a step-motherly attitude towards Malviya as it had viewed him was a ‘rightist.’ “The Congress got over the misapprehension and decided to celebrate Malviya’s birth anniversary only when it felt that his name could be used during the last UP Assembly elections,” the source said. 

 On the other hand, the UPA Government had gone out of its way to celebrate Motilal’s  birth anniversary. The then Culture Minister Kumari Selja had decided to go ahead despite the fact that the anniversary was already over. And a high-power committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh oversaw the celebrations.  “When it is a tie between the ruling family patriarch and someone with no family tag, the outcome can well be expected,” said the source.

http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1420455.ece?service=print

Flights to and from Mysore resume

SpiceJet service will operate thrice a week

Commercial flights to and from Mysore resumed on Monday, with the SpiceJet Bombardier aircraft landing at the airport at 1 p.m., and taking off at 1.30 p.m.

Inbound passengers were greeted by the travel agents’ association with flowers and ‘yellu bella’, in view of Sankranti. The resumption of commercial flights has filled the vacuum created by the suspension of the Kingfisher flight in November 2011 and meets the long-pending demand for air connectivity from the region.

The SpiceJet flight will operate thrice a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between Bangalore and Mysore. The departure from Bangalore will be at 12.20 p.m., and it will land in Mysore at 1.10 p.m. (the inaugural flight landed ahead of schedule). The same flight will take off at 1.30 p.m. to reach Bangalore at 2.20 p.m. While 17 passengers took the inbound flight from Bangalore on the 78-seater aircraft, the outbound flight had 27 passengers.

---

·  It will land in Mysore at 1.10 p.m. and leave for Bangalore at 1.30 p.m.

·  Passengers want early-morning flight services

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/flights-to-and-from-mysore-resume/article4308714.ece

Airlines to shift facilities to new Kolkata terminal from Feb 1

Kolkata, Jan. 14:  

After a prolonged wait, aviation companies are bullish about starting commercial operations from the renovated terminal of the NSC Bose International Airport in the city in March. The terminal will be formally inaugurated on January 20.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) last week announced that the new integrated terminal would be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on January 20. They, however, added that “operations” would start only by the end of March.

Practical deadline

“For the first time, AAI has done a realistic assessment of the scenario at the modernised terminal,” a senior official of a private airline told Business Line. According to him, the end-March deadline is quite practical as “the carriers need time to set up due on-sight facilities and carry out system trials for both departure and arrival, before launching commercial operations”.

But, he added, there should be multiple trials of the baggage handling system, in the interim , to avert rush-hour chaos once commercial operations begin. “Such systems should get at least 80 per cent competency before the commercial operations start,” the official said.

“The carriers are expected to start shifting their facilities to the modernised terminal from February 1. Two month’s time for shifting is normal,” B. P. Sharma, Regional Director of AAI, said.

Interestingly, according to an airport official, even the common facilities such as VIP lounges, duty-free stores and others are unlikely to be ready by January 20, when the President will inaugurate the airport.

The Rs 2,500-crore modernisation programme, which is being carried out by the Thai-Indian consortium of ITD-ITD Cementation, has already missed three official deadlines for completion since August 2011.

The AAI could not begin operations at the terminal before Durga Puja in October last year as promised by the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. According to sources, almost 95 per cent of the modernisation work has been completed as of now.

ayan.pramanik

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/airlines-to-shift-facilities-to-new-kolkata-terminal-from-feb-1/article4308001.ece

Aranmula airport gets in-principle nod from Aviation Ministry

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 14:  

The private sector KGS Aranmula International Airport has received the crucial ‘in-principle approval’ of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

A copy of the order issued by the Ministry available with Business Line says that the approval is effective from September 4, 2012.

FINA CLEARANCE

P.T. Nandakumar, Executive Director of the airport company, said that this is the final clearance granted by the steering committee of the Ministry chaired by Secretary, Civil Aviation.

Just ahead of this, an environmental expert committee had examined the proposal twice. It recommended issue of environmental clearance to the project vide minutes dated December 16, 2011, and August 16, 2012.

Airports Authority of India had issued the site clearance for the airport October 15, 2009. The Kerala Government issued its NOC on September 8, 2010.

No objection certificate from the Defence Ministry was issued on August 24, 2011.

The Kerala Government recommended the airport project to the Civil Aviation Ministry September 26, 2011. Clearance for international operations was made available by the Ministry of Civil Aviation October 28, 2011.

WORK TO BEGIN

Work on the Rs 2,000-crore project would commence in the second week of this month, Gigi George, Managing Director, KGS Aranmula International Airport, said.

The airport is expected to be ready for operation by December 2014.

In the first phase, two km of runway will be developed followed by laying of approach road and other related work.

The company has in its possession 450 acres in Aranmula and proposes to raise this to 700 acres.

According to George, around 40 per cent of the State’s air traffic originates from within 40 km radius of the proposed airport.

The State Government has expressed his intent to take a 10 per cent share in the equity. It will provide the Government with a berth in the board of directors.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/aranmula-airport-gets-inprinciple-nod-from-aviation-ministry/article4307935.ece

Air India writes to Ministry expressing concern over proposed Jet-Etihad deal

New Delhi, Jan. 14:  

In a move that could generate more controversy for the proposed Jet Airways-Etihad deal, Air India has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation saying that allowing the deal to go through could affect the overall complexion of international air passenger flow to and from India.

Government sources told Business Line that while the letter does not mention Etihad by name, it does point out that if the West Asian carrier picks up a majority stake in Jet Airways, most of the decisions about Jet’s future plans are likely to be driven by the foreign carrier.

Air India’s communication adds that allowing the deal in the current shape could also have an adverse impact on Air India’s prospects as the airline currently operates non-stop flights from India to London, Paris and Frankfurt. In November last year, the Government permitted Air India to operate daily flights from Delhi to Rome-Madrid-Barcelona and Moscow while from winter schedule 2013, the Maharaja has been allowed to launch daily flights between Mumbai and Nairobi.

The exact contours of the deal between Jet and Etihad are still being worked out although it is expected that the foreign carrier will initially pick up a 24 per cent stake. The eventual stake sale could see Etihad getting a majority stake in the Indian airline. Ending months of speculation about the deal, on January 3, Jet Airways had informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that Jet and Etihad were in discussions regarding a potential investment.

Panel set up

Following Air India’s letter, the Ministry has set up a committee to examine the matter. Being the nodal agency for civil aviation, the Ministry’s views could affect the prospects of the deal, analysts feel.

On Monday, the Jet Airways stock closed at Rs 596.55 or 0.11 per cent lower on the BSE.

ashwini.phadnis

@thehindu.co.in

alarm BEEPS Air India concerned over allowing foreign direct investments in domestic airlines Its letter points out that after the Jet-Etihad deal, though substantial ownership will remain with Indians, equity participation by Etihad will drive the airline’s future growth Air India is worried that the deal could alter overall complexion of foreign passenger flow thereby affecting its prospects

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/air-india-writes-to-ministry-expressing-concern-over-proposed-jetetihad-deal/article4307945.ece

DGCA awaits FAA report on Boeing 787

Recently, there have been technical mishaps, including an electrical fire and a brake problem, involving the aircraft

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) is to wait for the report of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the technical problems faced by Boeing 787s before a decision is made on Air India’s six recently acquired ones.

These six aircraft, called Dreamliners, are being deployed on AI’s regular domestic flights to Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, apart from connecting India with Dubai, Frankfurt and Paris.

Recently, there have been technical mishaps, including an electrical fire, a brake problem, a broken cockpit window and a fuel spill involving these aircraft at various airports around the world. These have prompted the FAA and the American manufacturer, Boeing, to jointly conduct a comprehensive review of the 787 Dreamliner. A team of FAA and Boeing engineers and inspectors are to conduct the review, with emphasis on the electrical power and distribution system.

Sources from DGCA told Business Standard, “We have asked AI (about) the problems with Dreamliners in other countries. Boeing and the FAA have assured us that there have been no imminent concerns. We are waiting for the report, as to validate the airworthiness of AI’s Dreamliners. Based on it, we will advise Air India.”

The batteries used in the Dreamliner are made of lithium, in contrast to the nickel- cadmium that is otherwise used, an official added.

"We have already carried out inspections on our aircraft on our own, including on the lithium ion batteries. Any new machine takes time to settle down," senior AI officials said, "We are awaiting any advice from the FAA or Boeing." Experts say these batteries are also used on F-22 and F-35 fighters, the International Space Station, and battery-powered cars such as the Tesla and the Chevy Volt.

Regarding fuel leaks, the airline officials said this was not something "unusual as it occurs in all aircraft types." Such problems have to be rectified but these are not significant, they said.

Boeing has designated a team in Delhi for any trouble- shooting, an official said, and this was "available to us at any time in the eventuality of the plane facing any technical problem".

Saying the "fuel efficient" plane had started turning the fortunes of the carrier on many loss-making sectors, so far serviced by B-777s, an official said, "We are banking on these aircraft because of the fuel efficiency."

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/dgca-awaits-faa-reportboeing-787/498775/

Acquisition for Karipur airport in three months

A high-level meeting convened by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal at Karipur on Saturday decided to acquire land for the development of the Calicut International Airport within three months.

“There is no fund limitation. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) wants to expand this (Karipur) airport by taking the local people into confidence. It (land acquisition) has to be completed in three months,” Mr. Venugopal told mediapersons after the meeting, in which various concerns of the people of Malabar were raised and discussed.

The meeting entrusted District Collector M.C. Mohandas with initiating talks with the local people for the land acquisition.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed; Minister for Industries and Haj Affairs P.K. Kunhalikutty; Minister in charge of Airports K. Babu; Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar; M.K. Raghavan, MP; K.N.A. Khader, MLA; and K. Mohammedunni Haji, MLA, were present at the meeting, apart from top officials of civil aviation, AAI, and Air India.

Better connectivity

The airport terminal building will be expanded within a year at a cost of Rs.120 crore. The runway will be extended by 300 metres on the eastern side. The AAI will spend Rs.200 crore for runway expansion. Air connectivity with Karipur will be increased soon.

Mr. Venugopal promised that the land acquired would be used only for airport development. There were rumours that the land was being acquired for other purposes. He said that the development plan of the airport would be put in the public domain.

Garbage problem

The meeting decided to set up an incinerator at the airport to end the problem of garbage. The meeting also entrusted the District Collector with talking to the local bodies in the neighbourhood to set up scientific waste treatment plants.

Unscientific waste disposal, particularly of slaughter and poultry waste, in the neighbouring panchayats was attracting birds, increasing the chances of bird hits at the airport.

“The AAI is ready to fund it if the panchayats come forward to set up mechanised slaughterhouses,” Mr. Venugopal said.

Baggage screening

He said the meeting decided to begin the inline baggage screening system soon at the airport. “No other airport in the State has introduced this system,” he said. Although set up a couple of years ago, the new system was lying in limbo owing to differences with the Customs Department.

New counters

Mr. Venugopal inaugurated eight new emigration counters at the airport. The total number of emigration counters has risen to 20.

AAI Chairman V.P. Agarwal, Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra, Civil Aviation Secretary K.N. Srivastava, Air India Express Chief Operating Officer Ansbert D’Souza, Calicut International Airport Director J.P. Alex, District Police Superintendent K. Sethuraman, and a host of officials and people’s representatives attended the meeting.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/acquisition-for-karipur-airport-in-three-months/article4303735.ece

AI to set up special cell for Umra, Haj

Committee to study problems faced by pilgrims

Air India will set up special cell to deal with Umra and Haj pilgrimage. A committee has been constituted to study the problems faced by the pilgrims and to suggest ways to improve their facilities. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal said at Karipur Airport on Saturday that the committee would submit its report within two weeks.

Without disclosing the names of the committee members, the Minister said that one of them was from Kerala. “He is the officer in charge of assisting the Haj activities,” Mr. Venugopal told presspersons.

Mr. Venugopal brushed aside the recent allegations levelled by Minister for Rural Development K.C. Joseph against Air India Express, saying that it was sad

when those in positions began finding fault with the national carrier.

He said he could not agree with those who were out to damage Air India Express. Even when admitting that the recent delays, cancellations and confusions had caused much credibility loss for Air India, the Union Minister said that people had failed to see the good services of Air India. “Air India is the only carrier which brings bodies. It was only Air India which came forward to bring the NRIs during the Gulf War,” he said.

Quoting statistics of November and December, 2012, the Minister said that Air India had cancelled only five out of the 1,360 services it operated in that period. Air India Express had cancelled only 18 of the 1,260 services it operated in two months.

---

·  Venugopal welcomes suggestions to improve flight services

·  Extends Airport Authority of India’s support to Kannur airport

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ai-to-set-up-special-cell-for-umra-haj/article4303718.ece

Dreamliner to fly Delhi to Paris

Air India on Thursday launched a daily flight on the Delhi-Paris-Delhi sector with a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the IGI airport. The airline received the sixth Dreamliner only six days ago. Dreamliners fly from Delhi to Dubai and Frankfurt, in addition to some domestic sectors.

The next destination to be served by the aircraft is likely to be London by next month. Two more Dreamliners are expected to be delivered within this financial year.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dreamliner-to-fly-delhi-to-paris/article4303572.ece

Dreamliner now flies to Paris from Delhi

Air India on Thursday launched a daily flight on the Delhi-Paris-Delhi sector with a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the IGI airport.

The airline received the sixth Dreamliner only six days ago.

Dreamliners fly from Delhi to Dubai and Frankfurt, in addition to some domestic sectors.

Next destination

The next destination to be served by the aircraft is likely to be London by next month.

Two more Dreamliners are expected to be delivered within this financial year.

Air India has 27 of these planes on order, each with 18 full-flat business seats and 238 in the economy wing.

It has begun replacing its 777s with these more fuel-efficient new planes, which are built of composite material, on its international routes out of Delhi and Mumbai over the past two months.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dreamliner-now-flies-to-paris-from-delhi/article4303349.ece

Air India to await US regulators’ report on Dreamliner

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”.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/air-india-to-await-us-regulators-report-on-dreamliner/article4302634.ece