Inspect locks of fuel switches in Boeing planes: DGCA to Airlines
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
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
In new deal, Trump keeps Indonesia tariff at 19%; country to buy 50 Boeing jets
A week after announcing a 32 per cent tariff on Indonesia, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a new deal with the Southeast Asian country, saying that he would impose a 19 per cent tariff on goods from Jakarta. US President Donald Trump said he finalised the deal after speaking with his Indonesia counterpart Prabowo Subianto.(Reuters) Taking to Truth Social, Trump said, "This morning I finalized an important Deal with the Republic of Indonesia after speaking with their Highly Respected President Prabowo Subianto. This landmark Deal opens up Indonesia's ENTIRE MARKET to the United States for the first time in History." US-Indonesia trade deal He said that as part of the deal, Indonesia has committed to purchasing US energy worth $15 billion and American agricultural products amounting to $4.5 billion. The US President added that Indonesia will also purchase 50 Boeing jets, many of which would be the 777 aircraft model. "For the first time ever, our Ranchers, Farmers, and Fishermen will have Complete and Total Access to the Indonesian Market of over 280 million people," he added. Since the US and Indonesia reached a trade deal before the August 1 deadline, the Southeast Asian country will now pay a 19 per cent tariff on the goods they export to America. "Indonesia will pay the United States a 19% Tariff on all Goods they export to us, while U.S. Exports to Indonesia are to be Tariff and Non Tariff Barrier FREE. If there is any Transshipment from a higher Tariff Country, then that Tariff will be added on to the Tariff that Indonesia is paying," the US President posted. He thanked Indonesians for their "friendship and commitment" to balancing their trade deficit. "We will keep DELIVERING for the American people, and the People of Indonesia," Trump added. This deal with the relatively minor trading partner of the US is among the handful of agreements struck so far by the Trump administration ahead of the August 1 deadline for tariffs on most US imports to rise again. While detailed information about the deal is yet to be released, the rough outline provided by Trump reportedly resembled the framework agreement struck with Vietnam in recent weeks. Indonesia's total trade deal with the US, just under $40 billion in 2024, does not rank in the top 15. However, it has been growing. Last year, US exports to Indonesia rose to 3.7 per cent, while imports were up by 4.8 per cent. According to the US Census Bureau data on the International Trade Centre's TradeMap tool, the top US import categories from Indonesia last year were palm oil, electronics equipment, including data routers and switches, footwear, car tires, natural rubber and frozen shrimp. Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official with Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, told Reuters, "We are preparing a joint statement between US and Indonesia that will explain the size of reciprocal tariff for Indonesia including the tariff deal, non-tariff and commercial arrangements. We will inform (the public) soon." ALSO READ | Donald Trump releases new tariff letters for Mexico, European Union The August 1 deadline on Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs gives the targeted countries time to crack a deal with Washington that could lower the threatened levies. So far, framework agreements have been reached with Vietnam and the United Kingdom, and an interim deal has been made with China while negotiations continue to take place between Beijing and Washington. Additionally, Trump said that negotiations with India were also moving in a similar direction. "India basically is working along that same line. We're going to have access to India. And you have to understand, we had no access into any of these countries. Our people couldn't go in. And now we're getting access because of what we're doing with the tariffs," he said.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Safety notices raise alerts on B787 fuel valves, switches
1 2 3 Kolkata: A day after DGCA ordered checks on fuel control switches of Boeing aircraft based on a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) NM-18-33 issued by US regulator Federal Aviation Authority in Dec 17, 2018, an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by FAA on Sept 19, 2015, on fuel shutoff valves has come to light. This AD, which required mandatory compliance, was flagged again a month later by UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which issued a safety notice requiring airlines to check fuel shutoff valves on Boeing aircraft. It mentioned that while fuel shutoff valves on aircraft, including B737, B757, B767, and B777, required inspection, those on B787s needed to be replaced. The AI plane that crashed on June 12 was a B787 Dreamliner. The preliminary investigation report also established that the crash was due to the plane losing thrust as fuel to the engines was cut off. While the report mentions transitioning the fuel switch from ON to CUT OFF and back to ON, some pilots say this sequence was required to be carried out in case fuel flow to the engines ceased, per the Boeing manual. The 2015 AD, the 2018 SAIB as well as the valve problem being raised again by CAA point to an inherent issue with the throttle control module used in B787 aircraft, and not just the fuel switches hinted at in the preliminary report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pernas e tornozelos inchados? Descubra o que pode ajudar a drenar agora aartedoherbalismo Undo You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The CAA safety notice (SN-2015/005) issued on May 15, 2025, less than a month before the June 12 Air India crash, reiterated the 2015 AD issued by FAA. It reads: "...the fuel shutoff valve actuators on the B787... require replacement, test and/or inspection..." "The Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) for operators of B787 aircraft should immediately make themselves aware of the relevant AD and establish whether it affects any aircraft... The operation check AD must be documented in the Operations Manual along with reference to the AD number," the notice added. Aviation safety experts and airline pilots said the AD was absolutely critical. An airline official said Indian carriers were mandated to follow the ADs issued by DGCA, while the CAA AD requires compliance by UK airlines. They acknowledged that the AD issued by FAA in Sept 2015 needed to be compulsorily acted upon and said DGCA issued the AD concerned in 2015. AI was under govt management back then. Airline sources said necessary action was taken.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Narasimha Rao reason why coalition govts perform better than majority govts, says Naidu
'India witnessed coalition governments from 1989 to 2014. Because of economic reforms, coalition governments were able to produce better results that governments with clear majority were not able to produce,' Naidu said. But the rise of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister marked a 'turning point,' restoring not just political stability, but also a 'renewed sense of national pride,' he added, delivering a lecture on the life and legacy of Rao at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML). New Delhi: Successive coalition governments in India, which lasted for over two decades until 2014, were able to produce 'better results' than the preceding majority governments, largely due to the economic reforms introduced by P.V. Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Tuesday. In his lecture, delivered as part of the Prime Ministers' Lecture Series organised by the PMML (formerly Nehru Memorial Museum and Library), Naidu invoked Rao's qualities as a polyglot to briefly wade into a political hot potato—the language row in Maharashtra. 'He (Rao) was a scholar fluent in 17 languages. Now we are talking why we should learn Hindi. He learnt 17 languages. That is how he became a great man,' Naidu said, describing Rao as the 'Deng Xiaoping of India' for his role in the 1991 economic liberalisation, which marked a shift from India's earlier socialist model. Former principal secretary to PM Modi Nripendra Misra also described Rao, who was awarded (posthumously) India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 2024, in similar terms in his introductory remarks at the event. 'He (Rao) was heading a minority government. To bring in bold reforms, political consensus is required. He managed to bring it due to his political acumen. To bring all in one platform was his greatest achievement,' Naidu said, drawing applause from a packed auditorium. The TDP supremo's remarks on Rao were largely confined to his role in unshackling the Indian economy, steering clear of any reference to the political circumstances, particularly his falling-out with Gandhi family, that led to him slipping into near-oblivion after his term as Prime Minister ended in 1996. A significant portion of Naidu's nearly 30-minute address focused on the achievements of Modi. The TDP is a key coalition partner in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, which fell short of securing a simple majority in the 2024 general election. Under Modi, India is taking strides on the world stage with 'confidence, clarity of purpose and bold decision making,' Naidu said. He also made it a point to recall Atal Bihari Vajpayee's role in transforming India's physical infrastructure and telecom sector. India, said Naidu, was primed to become an economic superpower, even surpassing the US and China, if it weds political stability with sound public policy. 'Hard work is no longer relevant, smart work is,' Naidu said, making a strong pitch for quantum computing. As CM, Naidu has taken up an ambitious project of developing a 'quantum city' in Amaravati. It is designed to include startups, MNCs, academia and research laboratories and will feature a building housing India's largest quantum computer, which, Naidu said, will arrive by 1 January, 2026. 'We are in inspiring times. The next 20 years are very crucial for India … With Modi at the helm of leadership, we will become the number one economy. It will happen through unity, hard work and a shared sense of purpose,' Naidu said. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: 'This secret will perish with me' — when Narasimha Rao was asked if India delayed nuclear test
