Inspect locks of fuel switches in Boeing planes: DGCA to Airlines
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Civil aviation regulator DGCA Monday asked Indian carriers to carry out inspections of fuel switch locks of all Boeing 787 and 737 jets in their fleet.These switches have come under intense scrutiny after an initial report on the probe into the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787 plane attributed fuel switch lock disengagement as the reason for the accident that killed more than 270 people in Ahmedabad.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that airlines have until July 21 to comply with its directive.In India, besides Air India, its lowcost arm Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet operate Boeing 737 jets, a single-aisle aircraft of the US-based manufacturer.An official at Tata Group-owned Air India said the airline started the checks on Saturday and completed them on half of its Boeing fleet so far. The checks haven't identified any defects, the official said.International airlines such as Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines have also initiated precautionary checks of fuel switch locks on their Boeing planes. Reuters reported that South Korea has also ordered similar checks on Boeing jets.These safety inspections by multiple countries come despite the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing assuring operators of Boeing planes that the fuel switch locks are safe.With the Boeing jets being manufactured in the US, countries often mirror FAA standards to ensure safety, reliability, and compatibility. However, regulators and airlines can independently take any action they deem fit for safe operations.In 2018, FAA had issued an advisory about cases of potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature in the 737. The issue has not been reported in any 787 so far, and the FAA also hasn't ever felt the need of changing the advisory to a mandatory one.Air India told investigators it did not carry out suggested inspections of fuel control switch locks, which regulate the flow of fuel to the engine, as they were "advisory and not mandatory".However, the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released on Saturday said Air India changed the switches when the airline had replaced the throttle control module, once each in 2019 and 2023.In a modern generation jet like the Boeing 787, the thrust control module and the fuel control switches are physically integrated into the same quadrant unit and the replacing the module also involves replacing the fuel switches, said an engineer certified for the aircraft.Moreover, following the AAIB report, FAA reiterated that it does not consider this to be an unsafe condition.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Tesla's entry will strengthen charging infrastructure in Mumbai: CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that Tesla's arrival in India would significantly strengthen Mumbai's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. His remarks came at the inauguration of Tesla's first 'Experience Centre' in Mumbai. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis noted that Tesla's move to open its Experience Centre marks the American EV giant's formal entry into the Indian market. Beyond this, the company is also working on developing a robust ecosystem for delivery, logistics, and servicing in the region. 'Tesla is setting up four major charging stations in Mumbai, which will help build a large-scale charging infrastructure in the city,' CM Fadnavis added. The Chief Minister also expressed his delight that Tesla has chosen Mumbai for its first showroom in India. He emphasised that Maharashtra is now emerging as a leader in EVs and mobility, thanks to its supportive policies for charging infrastructure and manufacturing incentives, which are drawing global companies to the state. Tesla has launched its journey in India with the introduction of its popular Model Y. The rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant of the Model Y is priced at Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom). The company has also unveiled the long-range RWD variant of the Model Y, priced at Rs 67.89 lakh. Addressing the gathering at the launch event, CM Fadnavis said, 'Mumbai is a symbol of innovation. It represents sustainability. Tesla is not just a car company -- it stands for design, innovation, and sustainability.' Recalling his first encounter with Tesla in the United States, CM Fadnavis said, 'Back in 2015, I had my first ride in a Tesla in the US, and I realised then that this is the kind of vehicle we need for mobility in India.' He added, 'It may have taken you 10 years to get here, but we are thrilled you've finally arrived. I believe the people of Mumbai and India will truly embrace Tesla. Once you begin vehicle deliveries, India will undoubtedly become one of your best markets.'
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Australian central bank proposes banning card payment surcharges
Sydney: Australia's central bank has proposed banning surcharges on card payments in a move it says will save consumers over a billion Australian dollars every year. In a consultation paper released on Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said that a review of merchant card payment costs and surcharges found it would be in the public interest to remove surcharging on payments made using eftpos (the domestic debit card network), Mastercard and Visa cards. It said that Australians currently pay 1.2 billion Australian dollars (768 million US dollars) in card payment surcharges every year and that surcharging is no longer achieving its "intended purpose" of steering customers towards more efficient payment choices as cash usage has declined. "We think the time has come to address some of these high costs and inefficiencies in the system," RBA Governor Michele Bullock said at a press conference. Under current rules, businesses are prohibited from imposing a surcharge greater than what it costs to accept a specific payment type. According to the RBA, eftpos and debit cards are typically less expensive for merchants to accept than credit cards, reported Xinhua news agency. However, its review found that businesses are increasingly charging the same surcharge rate across all cards. "Removing surcharging would make card payments simpler, more transparent and help to increase competition in the card payments system," it said. Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced last October that the federal government would ban surcharges for debit card payments. The RBA review concluded it would be simpler to remove surcharges on debit and credit cards to avoid confusion and implementation issues. The central bank also proposed lowering the cap on interchange fees paid by businesses, which it said would benefit 90 per cent of businesses and save another 1.2 billion Australian dollars a year. Additionally, its proposal would force credit card networks such as Visa and Mastercard to publish the fees they charge to improve transparency and competition. The review will be finalised following a six-week consultation period.
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
ISMA urges Govt to continue with curbs on ethanol imports
New Delhi: The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has urged the government to continue with the restrictions on ethanol imports as the measure has spurred India's petrol blending programme in the drive to green energy and also enabled timely payments to sugarcane farmers. ISMA has, in a letter to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, referred to media reports suggesting the possible consideration of lifting restrictions on ethanol imports for fuel blending, as part of ongoing trade discussions with the US. The latter states that over the last few years, the Government's clear and forward-looking policy direction-anchored in the National Policy on Biofuels which led to placing ethanol imports for fuel under the 'restricted' category, has laid a solid foundation for a self-reliant, domestic ethanol economy. The interest subvention schemes and facilitative regulatory ecosystem have catalysed the establishment and expansion of indigenous ethanol capacities across India, the letter points out. These landmark interventions have achieved multiple national objectives of ensuring timely payments and enhanced incomes for sugarcane farmers, reducing India's dependence on imported crude oil and promoting clean and sustainable biofuels, the letter states. It highlights that the coordinated effort has led to India's ethanol production capacity growing by over 140 per cent since 2018, with investments exceeding Rs 40,000 crore. Ethanol blending has already reached 18.86 per cent and is firmly on track to meet the 20 per cent blending objective ahead of target. This remarkable progress has been made possible due to the Prime Minister's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of India's farmers. This has had a direct and measurable impact on farmers' welfare. By allowing the diversion of sugarcane and surplus grains into ethanol production at administered prices, the government has enabled timely cane payments and improved farm-level incomes across the country, the letter added. The latter states that opening up ethanol imports for blending would pose challenges to the sugar industry as it would affect profitability and may lead to underutilisation of Indian ethanol plants, many of which are still in the early stages of capital recovery.
