DGCA takes up IndiGo incidents with P&W; engine maker’s service bulletin on second phase recall in 60 days

The second phase of Pratt & Whitney’s engine recall will be covered by a service bulletin in two months, according to the aviation regulator DGCA, and the majority of engine removals are anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2024.

According to a note, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also brought up with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) the three instances of IndiGo planes experiencing engine problems in recent weeks and had requested an urgent response.

The second phase of Pratt & Whitney’s engine recall will be covered by a service bulletin in two months, according to the aviation regulator DGCA, and the majority of engine removals are anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2024. According to a note, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also brought up with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) the three instances of IndiGo planes experiencing engine problems in recent weeks and had requested an urgent response.

Globally, a total of 200 engines were to be recalled due to the HPT hub issues which could only be detected with an Angular Ultra Sonic Inspection (AUSI) at shop level. In the first phase, the impacted engines were required to be removed before September 15 for the AUSI in a shop.

In the note, DGCA said that 11 engines of the IndiGo fleet were impacted and out of these, six were part of the current P&W AOG (Aircraft on Ground) and only five were operating engines, which were removed before September 15.

“On September 11, P&W indicated that the phase-2 recall is being reviewed by P&W which will require removal of up to 600 engines between 2023 and 2026, with most of the removals in Q1 of 2024. P&W will issue a Service Bulletin in the next 60 days with the fleet management action plan,” as per the note.