AI’s Sunderbans gets clean chit from Boeing

Mumbai: Sunderbans, the 13-year-old leased Air India (AI) Boeing that was in a series of tyre-related incidents earlier in the year, last week received a clean chit from its manufacturer, Boeing. The 747-400 combi bearing registration VT-AIM was sent to Boeing’s Seattle facility following an in-house AI panel recommendation that it be sent to the manufacturer for an inspection and re-certification.Consequently, on July 3, the airplane took off for the US .
Over a period of three days, (from July 5 to 7), a team of four AI engineers and two pilots overlooked the checks conducted by Boeing and set out for Mumbai via London Gatwick Airport on July 8.
The plane operated as a ferry flight, that is without any passengers, both ways, costing the AI exchequer over Rs 2 crore for the exercise.
A final decision on when the aircraft will be pressed into service again will be taken later this week by AI CMD V Thulasisdas.
10/07/06 Lekha Agarwal/Mumbai Newsline

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