New Delhi: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet is the only Indian airline that is likely to be affected by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) order calling for the inspection of Boeing 737 next generation (NG) aircraft after structural cracks were found in parts of some of the planes.
Days after the US aviation watchdog ordered the inspections, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also ordered similar checks on 23 Boeing 737 NGs of SpiceJet.
DGCA chief Arun Kumar confirmed the orders. “The checks may begin from 3 October onwards as the airworthiness advisory from Boeing will be issued by 2 October,” Kumar said.
In India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Vistara all have Boeing 737 NG aircraft but only the fleet with SpiceJet will be covered by the inspection.
Kumar said that only the fleet with SpiceJet meets the specifications of the aircraft that the FAA wants inspected.
“Boeing will be conducting checks on all B737 NGs that have over 26,000 flight cycles,” Kumar said. “Considering this fact, only SpiceJet’s 23 B737-NG aircraft have over 26,000 flight cycles whereas Air India Express and Vistara have less than 20,000 flight cycles, which is why these two airlines will not be impacted.”
A takeoff and a landing denotes one flight cycle.
Kumar added that of 23 planes that will undergo checks, 19 are passenger aircraft and four are freighters.
Also read: SpiceJet plans IPO for its cargo unit as demand for fast shipping goes up
‘No real issue, only probability of cracks’
Another DGCA official said that although the SpiceJet Boeing 737 NGs have not faced any issue so far, there are probabilities, which is why the regulatory body has ordered the checks, followed by necessary repair.
The B737 NG model includes the 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900. These planes have common engines and have common wingspan and height but they differ only in terms of seat capacity. 737-900 models have the highest seating capacity.
According to a BBC report, “the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had said that Boeing discovered the cracks while conducting modifications on a heavily used aircraft”.
The report also said that this issue will not affect any of the 737 Max airplanes.
Also read: As Boeing struggles with 737 Max, SpiceJet considers dumping it for Airbus