New Delhi: India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has asked Air India to reinspect the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system on all its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The directive applies to aircrafts where the Power Conditioning Module (PCM) was recently replaced. The move comes after two recent technical incidents involving Air India’s Boeing 787 jets within just a few days.
The DGCA has also directed Boeing, the aircraft’s US-based manufacturer, to submit a detailed report outlining preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future. The regulator has further sought information on similar RAT deployment cases reported worldwide on Boeing 787 aircraft and any service difficulty reports following PCM replacements.
The decision follows two serious mid-air technical issues reported this month. On October 4, the RAT on Air India’s Amritsar-Birmingham flight (AI-117) deployed automatically just before landing. Then, on October 9, another Dreamliner operating the Vienna-Delhi flight (AI-154) had to divert to Dubai after its autopilot system failed mid-flight, causing multiple technical malfunctions.
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For context, a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is an emergency power device that deploys automatically if the aircraft loses its main power. It uses wind energy to generate electricity to keep critical systems working.
According to a DGCA official, Air India has been asked to reinspect all aircraft where the PCM module — an essential electrical component that manages power distribution across the aircraft — was replaced recently.
The airline has also been advised to review the work package of the “D” check (a major aircraft maintenance check) to ensure all necessary actions were taken after PCM replacements.
During the October 4 incident, the RAT unlock message appeared at around 400 feet before landing, but the pilots reported no abnormalities, and the aircraft landed safely.
Boeing-recommended maintenance checks were later carried out, and no defects were found. The aircraft was subsequently cleared for service and flown back to Delhi on October 5.
Air India, however, has denied reports suggesting an electrical failure in the aircraft that diverted to Dubai.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), in a letter to the Civil Aviation Minister, claimed that the Vienna–Delhi flight had experienced multiple system failures, including issues with autopilot, flight directors, and the instrument landing system, forcing pilots to fly manually at night and divert the plane to Dubai.
The pilots’ body also called for grounding the entire Boeing 787 fleet and conducting a special safety audit of Air India.
The DGCA’s investigation into both incidents is currently underway. The regulator said it will take further action after receiving Boeing’s report and reviewing Air India’s inspection findings.
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