The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has advised Indian airlines operating Boeing 737 planes about the potential risk of a jammed rudder control system.
The move follows a recent investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that highlighted safety concerns in Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators.
The DGCA has recommended several safety measures to Indian carriers. These include informing flight crews about the possibility of a jammed or restricted rudder control system and conducting safety risk assessments for aircraft.
The DGCA said carriers should discontinue Category III B approach, landing and rollout operations until further notice.
Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet operate Boeing 737 planes.
The DGCA said all flight crews are to be informed through a circular/advisory regarding the possibility of a jammed or restricted rudder control system.
“None of our Boeing 737 NG aircraft are impacted,” SpiceJet spokesperson said. "Appropriate mitigations must be communicated to help crews identify and handle such a situation."
Further, all operators have been asked to conduct a safety risk assessment for aircraft to evaluate and mitigate the risk associated with the rudder control system.
Among other measures, airlines have been asked to mandatorily include discussion about potential rudder control system issues in recurrent training sessions.
It will also be included in the Instrument Rating/Proficiency Checks (IR/PPC) during pre-simulator briefings.
"Operators have been instructed to include specific exercises in Recurrent Training and IR/PPC that simulate scenarios involving a jammed or restricted rudder control system, including rollout procedures. Appropriate flight crew responses and mitigations should be practised during these exercises," the regulator said in a release.
The regulator's decision comes in response to the NTSB's investigation, which identified a "potential risk" of jamming in the SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators.
