Tata Group-promoted Air India is set to complete the enhanced safety inspections of its Boeing 787 fleet by Wednesday, following a directive from India’s aviation safety regulator, sources told businessline.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated the inspections after a tragic air crash involving one of the airline’s Boeing 787-800 aircraft on June 12.
The DGCA has ordered Air India to conduct one-time checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, equipped with GenX engines, before departing from India.
According to the DGCA order, these checks include inspections of critical systems, such as fuel parameter monitoring, cabin air compressor, electronic engine control, engine fuel-driven actuator, and hydraulic system, as well as a review of take-off parameters.
Action taken report
Air India has already completed inspections on 25 out of its 33 Dreamliner aircraft. Post the inspections, the airline will submit an action taken report to the DGCA.
“Around 28 aircraft are likely to be inspected by Wednesday or so. However, five aircraft will be inspected on a later date since they are already undergoing scheduled maintenance checks,” sources told businessline.
The enhanced safety inspections are part of the DGCA’s efforts to ensure the airworthiness and safety of Air India’s fleet.
inspections
In addition to the one-time checks, the airline will implement flight control inspections during transit until further notice and carry out power assurance checks within two weeks.
Air India will also review and address recurring snags on its B787-8 or -9 aircraft reported in the last 15 days. At present, Air India operates a fleet of 26 Boeing 787-8 and 7 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, inherited from Vistara.
The airline is also expecting to receive a brand-new 787-9 aircraft in October 2025. According to industry experts, the airline might not face any major fallouts; however, flights may get delayed, especially on long-haul routes.
Nonetheless, Air India is offering refunds or rescheduling options to mitigate the inconvenience.