COVID-19 effect: DGCA extends deadline for IndiGo, GoAir to replace unmodified PW engines to Aug 31

Indian aviation regulator DGCA on Monday extended deadline for IndiGo and GoAir to replace all 60 unmodified Pratt and Whitney (PW) engines on ir A320 neo planes from May 31 to August 31, as supply chain has been impacted due to vel coronavirus-induced lockdown. 

PW engine-powered A320 neo planes in IndiGo and GoAir fleets have been facing glitches both mid-air and on-ground since ir induction way back in 2016.

On January 13, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said unmodified PW engines do contain an “unsafe condition, which is prone to undesirable outcomes” and refore, need to be dispensed with.

On Monday, regulator said: "We took a call a couple of days back and instructed both airlines. Both taken toger about 60 engines are yet to be replaced and obvious reason was COVID-19 impact and resultant lockdowns."

Supply chains and production lines got impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic and in turn, disturbed process, it added.

"Keeping all this in view, we have extended deadline by three months; up to 31st of August 2020. Also, we instructed that for current times, aircraft with both engines modified should be flown and this should t be difficult as curtailed operations are likely to last for some more time," regulator said.

Four Air Turn Back (ATB)/Inflight Shut Down (IFSD) events were witnessed on Airbus A320Neo aircraft operated by Indigo in a week during October 2019 due to failure of third st LPT (low-pressure turbine) blades.

(Representative im: PTI)