New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has rejected a request by American manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) to relax stringent rules for checking the engines, a development that comes in the wake of 69 cases of mid-air engine failures of Airbus A320neo (new engine option) aircraft fitted with P&W engines and operated by domestic carrier IndiGo.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has in an internal note, seen by ET, raised concern over the large number of engine failures and engine replacements on IndiGo aircraft, and recommended continuation of stringent checks on P&W engines.
“It can be seen that engines have encountered multiple failures due to various reasons. The relaxation on restrictive limits sought by P&W… may not be agreed to till such time the cases of failures of the said engines are addressed properly and to an acceptable limit,” the note reads.
The DGCA, in its reply sent to P&W on October 27, said that the “relaxation of restrictive limits has not been agreed to”.
Due to frequent failures on Airbus A320neo being operated with P&W engines, the DGCA had imposed frequent checks on these aircraft including inspection of engines after every 1,000 hours, instead of 1,500 hours as sought by P&W, and repeat inspection every 500 hours.
29/11/17 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times
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