Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Yet another AI Dreamliner in trouble, DGCA orders probe

New Delhi/Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the incident of an Air India flight, AI 123, from New Delhi to Rome losing radio contact over Italy on October 16. The regulator has directed the airline to submit a report on the incident.

An Air India Dreamliner, registered VT-ANQ, lost radio control with air traffic control in Italy on October 16. Consequently, the Grosseto airbase was asked to intercept, identify and escort the aircraft. Two Italian air force Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000A jets· ·reached the B787 at 24,000 feet to the southeast of Rome. The Typhoons identified the plane, shadowed it from a distance and at 30 km from destination they were cleared to return to their base. According to sources in the know ·of the developments, the Air India aircraft was given direct routing into Italy. But pilots failed to establish contact with ·air traffic control upon entering Italian airspace due to failure of the jet's VHF radio sets. Italian air traffic controllers subsequently managed to establish contact on an emergency frequency. There are three radio sets on an aircraft, one of which is used only on the emergency frequency. "It can be said to be a case of overreaction on part of the Italian authorities", said an industry source.
22/10/14 Business Standard
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