DGCA Banned IndiGo and GoAir from Operating their A320neo Planes to Port Blair

A320neos have reportedly been facing engine problems since their introduction in India in March 2016, the safety concerns over the P&W engines have increased recently due to a burst in the number of reported snags on aircraft fitted with them.
DGCA Banned IndiGo and GoAir from Operating their A320neo Planes to Port Blair

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) yesterday barred IndiGo and GoAir from working their A320neo planes to Port Blair and any abroad route in the wake of problems with their Pratt & Whitney engines.


The newest occurrence connecting a P&W engine occurs on January 3 on an IndiGo Chennai-Kolkata flight. The aircraft delayed mid-air with a loud bang, reportedly followed by sparks and smoke, forcing the A320neo to return to Chennai under emergency conditions.

While the A320neos have supposedly been facing engine problems since their forward in India in March 2016, the safety concern over the P&W engines has augmented lately due to a spurt in the number of reported snags on aircraft fitted with them. It is the fleet fitted with PW1100 engines from serial number 450 and beyond that has seen recurring defects.

Due to the above issues, the aviation regulator has issued instructions with admiration to flying A320neos fitted with P&W engines by the two budget carriers, which supposedly boast around 100 of these planes collectively. "The DGCA has barred the airlines from in commission the planes to Port Blair since the nearest landing place in case of an emergency is more than one hour away,"

"When a Neo with faulty Pratt engine gets stuck in Port Blair, it takes longer for the airline to fly in man and substance there to repair or replace the same. Examination of the faulty PW engine also takes longer there. And Port Blair is a small airport that has one less aircraft parking bay as long as the Neo remnants grounded there, warning its capacity."

The official added that the flying limitations also apply to "any overseas route where an exchange landing place is over an hour away at any point in its journey over the ocean".

Furthermore, after an assembly between P&W officials, the Indian operators and Ministry of Civil Aviation officials last week to review the performance of A320neos with P&W 1100 series engines, the DGCA has issued fresh directives in addition to the accessible actions to address the engine troubles. The two Indian carriers have been heading for to carry out the certain inspection of the P&W engines, at specified timelines in addition to the flight restrictions.

The supervisory body has also asked the airlines to create awareness among cabin and cockpit crew about "odor/ burning smell/ smoke (even if slightest) during move toward phase and positive reporting to cockpit crew for necessary action". If any odor or smoke is observed in air-conditioning pack air, the cockpit crew needs to identify the source of odor by isolating packs one at a time. A certain set of components used in aircraft engines are referred to as packs. Moreover, all such cases have to be recorded for necessary investigation, the DGCA clarified.

In light of the above, IndiGo's plans to fly its P&W engine powered A320neos on long-haul international sectors, including Europe, will be put on the ice, yet again.

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