NEW DELHI: Airborne hangs and wildlife incursions on runways continue unabated with no signs of abating. Two Go ahead Airbus A320neos experienced problems with their Pratt & Whitney (PW) engines on Tuesday, with one being diverted and the other returning safely to origin. Another Leh Delhi flight was canceled due to a dog on the runway at take-off, making it the airline’s third problem in one day.
GoFirst’s Mumbai-Leh flight (G8-386) was diverted to Delhi, while a Srinagar-Delhi flight (G8-6202) was returning to Srinagar due to engine failure. Ordering a probe, the Directorate-General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded both A320neos to fly and they will only fly again after the regulator’s nod.
Comments have been solicited from the airline on these issues and are awaited by the time the story goes public.
“An A320neo (VT-WGA) was diverted to Delhi following a problem in the number two engine ‘Engine Interface Unit’. The other A320neo (VT-WJG) was returning to Srinagar after engine number two stalled due to an “exhaust gas temperature excess,” said a senior DGCA official. And the third A320neo (VT-WJJ), scheduled to operate a Leh Delhi flight as the G8-226, “was involved in a takeoff being rejected due to a dog on the runway,” officials said.
Since there have been multiple problems with engines at both Pratt & Whitey and CFM, the regulator will bring them into the ongoing investigation and ask them about two things – why are the faults occurring so frequently and what are they doing to fix them? same. Airbus and Boeing are also likely to be addressed about the thrust at stumbling blocks that have nothing to do with the engines. The maintenance and operation of the airlines are subject to the scanner of the regulatory authority anyway.
Aircraft maintenance technicians from GoFirst and IndiGo have called in sick at some airports in recent weeks to protest poor salaries. Following a series of incidents at various airlines, the DGCA on Monday had identified “improper identification of the cause of a reported error and unavailability of the necessary certifying staff to deal with multiple scheduled arrivals/departures in a short interval” as factors contributing to this push.
The DGCA on Tuesday also accused airlines of “reverting to frequent one-off permits for (some) certifying staff at transit stations” over the recent shortcomings. Based on these findings, it has ordered aircraft to be cleared at base and transit stations by certifying staff licensed as aircraft maintenance engineers. Airlines have been asked to address these issues by July 28.
“There have been at least one Pratt & Whitney and three CFM engine failures in the last four months. They all faced different problems and were prompted to shut down. They are under close scrutiny in consultation with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (PW & CFM),” a senior DGCA official investigating these deficiencies recently told TOI.
Engine manufacturers say the “environment” of the Middle East and India – hot, dusty, sandy and humid (in the case of India) – is the most difficult for their machines. The behavior of motors in cold and dry places is different than when operating in a harsh environment, they say, adding that this problem is solved by technological means.
When asked about the increasing frequency of engine failures, CFM recently told TOI: “Safety is our number one priority. We work closely with our customers and the DGCA. We are committed to supporting our customers and minimizing business disruption.”
Comments were requested and expected from PW.