Question : TECHNICAL SNAGS IN DREAMLINERS

(a) the total number of Dreamliners purchased or inducted by Air India in its fleet during the last three years and the current year along with the expenditure incurred on their purchase;

(b) whether frequent technical snags in Dreamliners have been reported after induction of these aircraft and if so, the details of such instances along with the losses incurred as a result thereof;

(c) whether Air India has taken up the issue with the manufacturer and supplier of Dreamliners and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(d) whether faulty Dreamliners have been grounded by Air India till the time their technical faults are rectified and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the measures taken or being taken by the Government to ensure safety of the air passengers?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a) : Air India had ordered 27 B787 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing. Out of 27 B787 aircraft, 19 aircraft have already been delivered and inducted in Air India`s fleet. The price of each aircraft is determined after negotiation with Boeing. Price negotiation is a commercially confidential subject and differs from aircraft to aircraft depending upon a host of conditionalities / parameters.

(b) and (c): Yes, Madam. The snags were related to software glitches and few others like Windshield cracks, Econ valve failure, Oil loss and TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) failure etc. The snags resulted in delays which caused financial outgo on arrangements/compensation which are borne normally by airlines. As far as the prolonged grounding of Dreamliners from January, 2013 is concerned, Air India has received compensation on mutually accepted terms.

(d): Yes, Madam. Due to technical sangs, all the Dreamliners aircraft were grounded, after a directive received from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) based on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), USAD, Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) dated 16th January, 2013 requiring all B787 operators to temporarily grounded the aircraft, subsequent to fire incident reported on aircraft operated by JAL(Japan Airlines Ltd.) and ANA (AI Nippon Airways) caused by malfunctioning of Lithium-ion battery. After completion of modification work on these airplanes by Boeing Team, the commercial flight operations on the B787 aircraft resumed, after DGCA clearance.

(e): The issue of technical reliability of Dreamliners aircraft has been strongly taken up with Boeing, the manufacturer. Boeing is actively involved with Air India on the reliability issues and these reliability enhancement modifications are being done on the Dreamliners. Boeing is providing technical support continuously to Air India Dreamliners for technical modifications and improvements for resolving the issues. However, these issues do not affect the safety of the passengers or the airplane due to the system design and in-built system redundancy.