Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express are set to significantly increase their flight operations to accommodate the surge in travel demand during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. This move coincides with Bihar's preparation for legislative assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11.

Increased Flight Operations

Air India and Air India Express will collectively operate 166 additional flights connecting Patna to major cities:

This substantial increase in flight capacity aims to meet the heightened travel demand during the festive season and facilitate movement for the upcoming Bihar elections.

Railway Services Also Expanded

In addition to the increased air connectivity, Indian Railways has announced a significant boost in its services:

• 12,000 special train services for the festive season
• Operational period: October 1 to November 15
• Includes 150 completely unreserved trains for last-minute travelers

The combined efforts of Air India, Air India Express, and Indian Railways demonstrate a coordinated approach to manage the increased travel demand during this busy period. These measures are expected to ease travel for those visiting their hometowns for festivities or participating in the electoral process in Bihar.

Travelers are advised to book their tickets in advance to ensure availability and take advantage of these additional travel options as the festive season approaches.

In a recent incident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a comprehensive investigation following an unexpected deployment of the aircraft's Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during landing at Birmingham airport.

Incident Details

The incident occurred on Air India flight AI-117, operating from Amritsar to Birmingham. As the aircraft approached landing at an altitude of 400 feet, the crew received a RAT unlock message, indicating an unexpected activation of the emergency turbine. Despite this unusual occurrence, the aircraft landed safely without any reported handling issues or system failures.

DGCA's Response

In response to this incident, the DGCA has taken the following actions:

• Requested a detailed report from Boeing
• Launched a thorough investigation into the matter
• Asked Boeing to provide global data on similar incidents
• Sought information on service difficulty reports related to Power Conversion Module (PCM) changes

Air India's Actions

Following the incident, Air India has been instructed to:

• Review maintenance packages
• Reinspect RAT mechanisms across all 787 aircraft with recently replaced PCM modules

Technical Context

The Ram Air Turbine is an emergency device designed to deploy during total power loss scenarios. Its unexpected activation during a routine landing procedure has raised concerns and prompted this investigation.

Recent Technical Issues

This incident adds to a series of technical issues that have recently affected Air India's Boeing 787 fleet. In a separate occurrence, a Vienna-Delhi flight was diverted to Dubai due to multiple system malfunctions.

Safety Measures

Post-incident, Boeing's recommended maintenance checks were completed on the affected aircraft. No discrepancies were found, and the aircraft has since returned to service.

The DGCA's investigation and the measures taken by both the regulator and Air India underscore the importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards in aviation. As the investigation unfolds, it may provide valuable insights for enhancing the reliability and safety of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in service worldwide.