Question : TECHNICAL SNAG IN OLD PLANE OF AIR INDIA

(a) whether the Government is aware that old plane of Air India for Los Angeles occurred a technical snag due to which the passenger had to be stranded at the airport for two days;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the passengers of the said flight had not been accommodated in another flights;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to counter/reduce the risks in the old planes; and

(f) the details of loss suffered by AI due to such technical snags in old planes during 2006 till date?

- MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )

(a) and (b): Air India`s Boeing 747-400 aircraft operating flight AI-136 on 2nd September,2006 on sector Los Angeles - Frankfurt - Delhi had developed a technical snag of Un-serviceability of both Weather Radars(WR). The aircraft arrived in Delhi with the said reported snag and a thorough rectification was carried out by Air India Engineering Department in consultation with the manufacturer, M/s. Boeing. It was observed that the said technical defect was one of uncommon nature and was attributed to the discrepancy in the Weather Radar high speed data bus. The snag was finally rectified by Air India on 6th September, 2006.

(c) and (d): The stranded passengers were accommodated in other flights and were also provided hotel accommodation for intervening period, wherever possible.

(e): In order to maintain aircraft in airworthy condition, the airlines mandatorily carry out appropriate maintenance inspections/repair/modifications etc. at stipulated intervals as prescribed by aircraft manufacturers and Director General of Civil Aviation. All the fleet in the airlines are airworthy.

(f): The requisite information is being compiled.