FLIGHT SAFETY! DGCA instructs IndiGo to do this within the next 15 days

In a bid to strengthen flight safety, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country's civil aviation regulator, has issued some instructions to IndiGo. Reportedly, DGCA instructed IndiGo to install at least one modified engine in each of its 16 A320neo aircraft within the next 15 days, as per an IANS report.

According to a senior DGCA official, IndiGo has been instructed to pair at least one modified LPT engine in those aircraft that use only unmodified engines. The move is expected to greatly improve in-flight safety. At present, IndiGo has 16 aircraft which use only unmodified engines, the IANS report said.

"We have decided that all aircraft which have unmodified LPT engines with more than 2,900 hours in each case have to be fitted with one modified LPT engine in the next 15 days," DGCA Director General Arun Kumar said.

"Failing which all these aircraft shall be grounded. This has been done after studying the pattern and evaluating the risks," he added.

On its part, the airline said: "We are continuing to work with the authorities and will take necessary actions, as required, going forward." In October alone, there have been three in-flight engine shutdowns in IndiGo's A320neo aircraft fitted with Pratt and Whitney engines, the IANS report says.

These shutdowns conducted through "commanded shutdowns" occurred on October 24, 25 and 26. Consequently, a DGCA team visited the IndiGo premises on Monday to review the maintenance and safety data.