(a) whether the Government has ordered immediate Borescope tests on aircraft that have operated for 1000 hrs;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps being followed during the above tests; and
(d) the measures being taken to remove those aircraft which are not airworthy in the country?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) & (b) DGCA has issued instruction to carry out boroscope inspection on PW1100G-JM engines installed on Airbus A320 Neo aircraft operated by M/s Indigo and M/s Go Air at 1000 hours and 500 hours.
These instructions were issued due to frequent unscheduled removal of engines due to deterioration in the combustion chamber of the engines. Consequent to above, the engine manufacturer M/s Pratt and Whitney had issued instructions for conduct of boroscopic inspection at the interval of 1500 hours. However during the analysis of the engine history it was observed that some of the engines have developed deterioration in the combustion chamber below the interval prescribed by the manufacturer. Based on above analysis, DGCA has issued these instructions to monitor the condition of engine after every 1000 hours of flying by conduct of boroscopic inspections.
In addition DGCA has also directed M/s Indigo and M/s Go Air to carry out one time boroscopic inspection of engines fitted on their A-320 Neo aircraft which have flown for 1000 hours to ensure safety of aircraft operations.
(c) The operators are required to carry out boroscope inspection on the engine as per the instructions of the manufacturer i.e. M/s P&W to monitor the condition of the combustion chamber of the engine to assess the deterioration, if any, in the combustion chamber. Based on the outcome of the inspection, decision is taken for further operation of the engine or their replacement. ;
(d) Aircraft are continuously maintained in airworthy condition by the owner/operator as per the guidelines of the manufacturer/DGCA. DGCA has also taken up the matter with the engine manufacturer and aircraft manufacturer in order to find permanent solution to these problems.