Etihad asks pilots to exercise caution with fuel control switches on Boeing 787s, orders their inspection
The instructions follow a communication from the U.S. aviation safety regulator Federal Aviation Administration to its counterparts around the world reminding them about its 2018 advisory on the disengagement of the lock on the fuel control switches after the Indian investigating agencies released their preliminary findings into the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash of June 12.
The Etihad bulletin dated July 12 instructs pilots to 'exercise caution when operating the fuel control switches or any other switches/control in their vicinity'. A copy of this directive has been viewed by The Hindu.
It adds that they should also avoid the presence of any objects on the pedestal that could result in their inadvertent movement.
It requires flight crew to immediately report any observed anomalies.
It explains why this directive is necessitated and states in its bulletin that this measure is 'out of an abundance of caution' ''as the official safety investigation affecting another Boeing 787 operator continues its course without positive conclusions at this stage'.
In a separate bulletin it has ordered inspection of the fuel control locking mechanism across its Boeing 787 fleet. It gives a step by step guide to its engineering team on how to inspect the fuel control switch locking feature for proper engagement, and where required replace the thrust control module where it is located.
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