India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a detailed technical inspection of several Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Air India’s fleet after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) emergency power system was unexpectedly deployed during a flight.
The authority also requested a comprehensive technical report from Boeing, outlining preventive measures to avoid similar incidents. According to DGCA, the RAT system activated without pilot command on October 4, though the flight was completed safely.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on an Air India flight from Amritsar to Birmingham. Pilots did not report any anomalies during the flight, and the aircraft landed safely before returning to commercial service.
DGCA has asked Boeing to submit a report covering all similar RAT activation cases across the global 787 fleet and the corrective measures taken in each instance.
Possible Link to June 12 Crash
Authorities indicated that the RAT system may also have deployed unexpectedly shortly before the June 12 Air India 787 crash. The preliminary investigation revealed that both engine fuel switches were moved almost simultaneously from “on” to “off” shortly after takeoff.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently analyzing the October 4 event but noted that no direct connection between the two incidents has been established so far.
Pilots Call for Grounding
The Indian Pilots’ Federation last week urged Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to ground all Air India 787 aircraft and conduct a comprehensive inspection of their electrical systems.
DGCA, meanwhile, instructed Air India to reinspect the RAT components on aircraft that recently underwent modifications to their power distribution systems. The number of affected aircraft was not specified.
Boeing Report Awaited
The findings from Boeing’s technical report and Air India’s inspections are expected to clarify the safety concerns surrounding the 787 Dreamliner’s electrical architecture and RAT functionality.
