SpiceJet, Jet Airways told to take ‘ corrective action’
Following the recent crash of the Lion Air Boeing 737Max 8 aircraft in Indonesia that killed 189 people on board, and based on subsequent inputs from the United States Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) and aircraft manufacturer Boeing, Indian aviation regulator DGCA has asked two Indian carriers — SpiceJet and Jet Airways — that operate this aircraft to take “corrective action” to address a possible technical problem in the aircraft that could lead to a loss of altitude of the aircraft nosedown leading in turn to the danger of a possible air- crash. In the light of this, the DGCA has called for changes to the Airplane Flight Manual for the aircraft. The technical problem has been identified by the US FAA and Boeing as relating to the “erroneous high Angle Of Attack sensor input” that has “a potential for repeated nosedown trim commands of horizontal stabilizer”. As per these inputs from the US FAA and Boeing, lack of taking corrective action “could cause the flight crew to have difficulty controlling the airplane, and lead to excessive nose- down attitude, significant altitude loss, and possible impact with terrain”.
On Thursday, DGCA sources said, “Based on initial investigation of Lion Air Aircraft Accident , FAA has issued E m e r g e n c y Airworthiness Directive ( AD) dated 07 Nov and Boeing has issued Bulletin dated November 6. Both the documents address erroneous high Angle Of Attack sensor input and corrective action for the same as it has a potential for repeated nose- down trim commands of horizontal stabilizer. This condition, if not addressed, could cause the flight crew to have difficulty controlling the airplane, and lead to excessive nose- down attitude, significant altitude loss, and possible impact with terrain.” DGCA sources added, “Within three days after receipt of FAA AD changes to Airplane Flight Manual have to be done, for procedures which have to be followed by flight crew. DGCA has ensured that all Indian operators are aware of the FAA AD and have taken appropriate corrective action.”