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Air India Completes Safety Checks on Boeing 787 Fleet, Finds No Technical Faults
Air India: Air India has completed a precautionary inspection of the fuel control switches on all its operational Boeing 787 aircraft and found no technical faults. This inspection was conducted after a pilot reported a malfunction with the switch during a London-Bengaluru flight.
On Wednesday, Air India said that it has completed a precautionary inspection of the fuel control switches on its Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft and found no technical faults.
This inspection comes as a result of a fuel control switch malfunction incident from a London Heathrow to Bengaluru flight on Sunday. As a precautionary measure, the airline inspected its entire fleet of 787 aircraft. Air India has a total of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, out of which 28 of them are in operation. According to the airline, all its operational aircraft have been inspected and no issues regarding flight safety have been found.
Air India said in a statement that the inspections were conducted as an additional precautionary measure following observations made by a pilot. The airline also stated that it appreciates the independent investigation conducted by the regulatory body and the subsequent clearance of the FCS.
On Monday, an Air India pilot detected a problem with the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft after flying a flight from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The flight was grounded for inspection. The flight, which carried over 200 passengers, landed at Bengaluru on Monday morning.
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Air India also stated that it will disseminate the procedures recommended by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) regarding FCS operation to all crew members and ensure their strict adherence, in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the fuel control switch on the left engine failed to lock properly in the run position twice during engine start at London Heathrow Airport on February 1st. The switch locked properly on the third attempt. The crew then physically inspected the switch to ensure it was fully fixed in the run position before proceeding. Only then was the flight resumed.
On Tuesday, the DGCA's preliminary investigation found that the correct procedure appeared to have been followed while operating the fuel control switch. Following this, the airline was directed to ensure that the crew followed the prescribed procedures correctly.
It is noteworthy that the functioning of the fuel control switch has been particularly in the news recently, as the preliminary investigation report into the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crash in June last year, which killed 260 people, mentioned a fuel supply cut-off shortly after take-off.
