India has requested information from Boeing regarding the automatic deployment of the emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system on an Air India Dreamliner during its final approach to Birmingham last week, occurring just seconds before landing at 400 feet. The U.S. aerospace manufacturer has also been asked to provide preventative measures to prevent a similar incident in the future. Boeing has not provided a comment on the situation.
The B-787 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANO), operating as flight AI117, underwent Boeing-recommended maintenance for uncommanded RAT deployment before its flight on October 4. Following this maintenance, no discrepancies were noted, and the aircraft was cleared for service, subsequently operating a non-stop flight to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday morning.
In the meantime, the Federation of Indian Pilots has written to the aviation ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, which is investigating the June 12 crash of an Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad. They have urged a comprehensive inspection of the electrical systems on all B-787s operating in the country.
Senior pilots noted that the RAT is a last-resort emergency power system, designed to deploy in cases of dual engine failure, hydraulic failure, or complete electrical failure. In this incident, however, no such failures occurred, yet the RAT deployed nonetheless.
