Lok Sabha Question No. 6369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Grounding of A320 Neo Aircraft
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, K. GOPAL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, POONAM  MAHAJAN, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6369 (To be answered on the 5th April 2018)

## GROUNDING OF A320 NEO AIRCRAFT

6369.

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

DR K GOPAL

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL

SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO

## Will the Minister f CIVIL AVIATION

- (b) if s0, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether various airlines have grounded their A-320 neo aircraft in the country due to which the air passengers are facing inconvenience;
- the number of flights cancelled due to the said reasons and whether any
- (d) whether various airline companies are "faulty aeroplanes in the country; using
- alternative arrangement has been made for the passengers; if the details thereof; SO,
- (e) if whether there is any mechanism which makes it mandatory for the airline companies to permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or other Government agencies before inducting new planes in their fleet; SO, get prior
- (g) the steps taken the DGCA and the Ministry to esnure the safety of air passengers; and by
- (f) if s0, the details thereof and the reasons for granting permission to induct A-320 neo planes with faulty engines;
- (h) whether the Court has directed the DGCA to verify the safety of all the Pratt & Whitney engines as well as airworthiness of the engines from the European Aviation Safety\_Agency and other independent experts after a Public Interest Litigation was filed against DGCA regarding faulty engines of Airbus A320 neo aeroplanes and if the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a) & (b) In view of a few occurrences of aborted take-off and in-flight shut down (IFSD) happening on A320neo fleet worldwide fitted with PW1IOO engines (from S. No. 450 and beyond), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive on 09 Feb, 2018. Accordingly, EASA imposed following operational restrictions:
- 2) Not to use those aeroplanes having at least one affected engine for ETOPs operations.
- 1) Grounding of Aeroplanes having two affected engines:

EASA Emergency Airworthiness Directive was immediately implemented and three A320neos in IndiGo fleet fitted with both the affected engines having ESN No. 450 and beyond were grounded. However,; 11 other A320neos aircraft (08 in IndiGo fleet and 03 in Go Air fleet) were allowed to operate as were fitted with one affected engine having ESN 450 and beyond: they

Subsequently, three cases of in-flight shutdown of A320neos fitted PWIIOOG-JM engines having Serial No: beyond 450 were reported Keeping in view the safety of aircraft operations, 11 4320 neo aircraft operated by Mls IndiGo and Go Air fitted with one affected engine each were grounded with effect from 12 March 2018. As

- (c) The number of flights cancelled due to the said reasons during I3th March 2018 to Znd April 2018, are given below:
- (ii) Go Air 336 out of 5396 scheduled flights Following alternative arrangements have been made for the passengers:
- (i) Indigo Airlines 776 out of 21000 scheduled flights
- (i) Flight schedules have been altered to accommodate affected passengers
- (iii) Free cancellations and re booking are available
- (ii) Many of the passengers werel are accommodated on other airlines based on seat availability being
- (d) to (f) new type of aircraft; before being imported in to the country, is issued with letter of Type Acceptance indicating that the aircraft meets the type design requirements-A320 neo aircraft were issued with Type Acceptance by the DGCA based on the Type Certificate issued by EASA: These aircraft are installed with the P & W 1100G-JM which were also issued with the Type Acceptance by the DGCA based on the Type Certificates issued by FAA: After induction, aircraft are maintained as per the approved maintenance programme and on identification of defects, if any, the same are rectified before the aircraft can operate. Any
- iCompliance of Aircraft Maintenance Programme, Airworthiness Directives, Mandatory Modifications etc:
- (g) Safety of operations of aircraft is ensured by: -
- 2.Carrying out Annual Review of Airworthiness 0f aircraft:
- 4.Conducting planned Surveillance Inspections of the operators as per the Safety Oversight Programme
- 3.Analyzing Engineering Statistical reports and advising the aircraft operators to take corrective actions on the adverse trend, if any.
- 5.Carrying out Periodic Regulator Audit; Carrying out Spot checks

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- (h) Matter is sub-judice