By Sulagna Halder
New Delhi:
Preventive inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanism on all of Air India's Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft have been successfully completed. The checks were carried out as a voluntary safety measure in accordance with aviation regulatory standards, and the airline confirmed that no faults were found.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued directives regarding aircraft operational safety, which prompted the inspections, which started on July 12. Air India proactively started the inspections on its own and made sure they were finished within the time frame the aviation regulator had given, even though the DGCA had already issued general advisories.
"Air India has finished precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet," the airline said in an official statement released on Monday. No problems with the aforementioned locking mechanism were discovered during the inspections. The airline also stated that the DGCA has been formally informed of this information.
During operation, the Fuel Control Switch is essential for controlling the engine's fuel supply. Maintaining in-flight safety regulations requires that this mechanism be properly locked, especially when starting and stopping the engine. The inspections were conducted as a preventative measure to reaffirm operational safety even though no incident involving FCS on Air India aircraft was reported.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Air India engineering official said, "Certified engineers conducted the inspections in accordance with DGCA advisory protocols and Boeing's maintenance guidelines. For this task, every aircraft was momentarily grounded, and every check revealed that the FCS locking system was operating as intended.
In aviation circles, Air India's voluntary compliance has been seen favorably, particularly at a time when preemptive safety reviews are receiving more attention from international aviation authorities. As part of a larger review prompted by international alerts from aircraft manufacturers and international aviation organizations, the DGCA had advised all Indian carriers flying Boeing aircraft to guarantee the integrity of the FCS locking mechanism.
Since joining the Tata Group, the airline has been making a concerted effort to improve its operational dependability and safety record. Among these initiatives are technical system upgrades, crew and engineer retraining, and close coordination with regulators and aircraft manufacturers.
Air India has reaffirmed its adherence to international safety standards after this inspection cycle ended without any findings. The airline's renewed emphasis on proactive safety culture, which is crucial in a setting where passenger confidence is strongly correlated with transparency and regulatory compliance, is also demonstrated by the successful completion.
