DGCA to HC: will take steps to ensure safety

Mumbai: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it will take steps to ensure safety, and communicate to the public through notices about faulty engines.

A Bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice G.S. Kulkarni was hearing a PIL filed by Harish Agrawal, a businessman from Juhu.

He said Airbus A320neo aircraft fitted with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines are repeatedly malfunctioning, but no action has been taken by the DGCA against Indigo and Go Air airlines, who continue to fly with these aircraft.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive for the A320neo on February 9.

PW1100 engines are classified into two types or serial numbers: 449, and 450 and beyond. The EASA ruled that engines having serial numbers 450 and beyond had combustion and other safety problems and those with only one 450 and beyond engine could continue to fly.

DGCA counsel Advait Sethna said, “The aircraft with serial numbers 450 and beyond, which caused trouble, have been grounded.”

Mr. Sethna assured the court that as far as the public is concerned, the DGCA is going to be proactive and if there is a problem, it will communicate to them through notices on its website. The court posted the matter for hearing on April 16.