New Delhi, Oct 13 : India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has directed Air India to reinspect the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system a critical emergency power unit on all its Boeing 787 aircraft where the Power Conditioning Module (PCM) was recently replaced.
The order follows two technical incidents involving Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners earlier this month, prompting the DGCA to step up safety checks.
In addition, the DGCA has asked Boeing to submit a detailed report outlining preventive measures to avoid similar occurrences. The regulator has also sought global data on RAT deployments and service difficulty reports on Boeing 787s after PCM replacements.
Recent Technical Incidents
The directive comes after two back-to-back events in October:
October 4: The RAT on Air India’s Amritsar–Birmingham flight (AI-117) deployed automatically just before landing. Although the pilots reported no issues, the RAT unlock message appeared at around 400 feet. The aircraft landed safely and was cleared for service after standard Boeing-recommended maintenance checks.
October 9: Another Boeing 787, operating Vienna–Delhi flight (AI-154), was diverted to Dubai after the autopilot system failed mid-flight, triggering multiple technical malfunctions.
A RAT serves as an emergency power source, deploying automatically during total engine, electrical, or hydraulic failures. It uses wind energy to generate electricity to sustain critical flight systems.
DGCA and Air India Response
According to DGCA officials, Air India has been instructed to review all aircraft where PCM modules were replaced and ensure compliance with maintenance protocols. The airline has also been told to reassess its “D” check procedures, verifying that all required actions were properly executed after PCM replacements.
While Air India has denied reports of an electrical failure on the Vienna–Delhi flight, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) wrote to the Civil Aviation Minister, claiming the flight experienced multiple system failures, including malfunctioning autopilot, flight director, and instrument landing systems. The pilots reportedly had to fly manually at night before diverting to Dubai.
The FIP has also urged authorities to temporarily ground the Boeing 787 fleet and conduct a comprehensive safety audit of Air India operations.
The DGCA’s investigation into both incidents remains ongoing. The regulator said it will determine further action based on Boeing’s report and Air India’s inspection findings.