DGCA Gives IndiGo, GoAir Until November 24 To Replace Pratt & Whitney Engines On Their A320 Neo Aircraft

Civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the deadline to replace engines on 36 Airbus A320Neo aircraft operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd-controlled IndiGo, and the Wadia Group-owned GoAir, to November 24.

Non-adherence of the directive will lead to grounding of the aircraft after lapse of the November 24 deadline, the DGCA has stated.

Earlier, the DGCA had earlier set November 19 as the deadline to replace the Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines, with modified low pressure turbines (LPTs).

So far, GoAir has placed modified engines on nine aircraft out of 13 while IndiGo has placed modified engines on 15 of its 23 aircraft.

However, since availability of LPTs are an issue, the DGCA has now asked the airlines to complete the task of engine replacement by November 24, extending its earlier deadline.

Earlier, on November 1, the DGCA had directed IndiGo to replace its P&W engines with modified LPTs on 97 Airbus A320 Neo aircraft by January 2020, after a series of engine incidents.

Incidentally, only IndiGo and GoAir operate P&W engine powered A320 Neo family of aircraft in India.

While GoAir has 38 Airbus A320Neo aircraft, IndiGo has 98 A320 family aircraft, including 91 A320 Neos and seven A321 Neos. Presently, all these aircraft are powered by P&W engines.