Air India RAT Deployment: Both the DGCA and the pilots’ union are vigilant about the safety and maintenance of Boeing 787 aircraft. Unintended RAT deployments and electrical system problems have increased the need for special inspections and vigilance on Air India aircraft.
India’s aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has sought a full report from Boeing on the incident of the uncommented RAT (RAM Air Turbine) deployment on Air India flight AI117. The DGCA has also advised Air India to inspect the RAT storage and recently replaced power control modules (PCMs) on all affected aircraft. A senior DGCA official stated, “Boeing has been directed to submit a full investigation report, global data on similar incidents on Boeing 787 aircraft, and operator reports following the PCM replacement, along with information on preventive measures.”
DGCA Directs Air India
The DGCA has also directed Air India to review its D-Check work package and ensure that all necessary work related to the PCM module replacement has been performed correctly. The RAT storage will be re-checked on all Boeing 787 aircraft that recently underwent a PCM module replacement.
RAT Recently Opened Without Command
Providing information about the incident, the official said, “AI-117, a Boeing 787-8 (VT-ANO), was flying from Amritsar to Birmingham. On October 5, 2025, the RAT opened without command at an altitude of 400 feet during landing. The pilot did not report any abnormalities, and the aircraft landed safely. Boeing stated that maintenance action was taken to address the unwanted RAT deployment, and no fault was found. The aircraft was cleared for service and returned to Delhi. The DGCA is investigating the incident to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Pilots’ Union Expresses Concerns About Boeing 787 Safety
Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) recently raised concerns about electrical system and maintenance issues on Air India aircraft. FIP President Captain CS Randhawa stated that Boeing 787 aircraft should be immediately grounded and their electrical systems thoroughly inspected. They have long demanded a judicial inquiry into the crash of Air India Flight 171, which has not yet taken place. Randhawa said, “Since the AI-171 crash, we have repeatedly requested a judicial inquiry from the Ministry, but no action has been taken.”
Concerns also expressed over Air India’s maintenance changes
The FIP also expressed concern over Air India’s maintenance changes. Air India has terminated its contract with AIESL (the government maintenance agency) and hired new engineers with limited experience. Randhawa said, “The lack of experience of the new engineers is causing aircraft maintenance problems. This could impact aircraft safety.”
The FIP cited two recent serious incidents.
First incident: AI-117 October 5 – The RAT deployed without a command. Second incident: AI-154 October 9 – A flight from Vienna to Delhi had to be diverted to Dubai due to a serious malfunction in the electrical and autopilot systems. The FIP stated that these incidents reflect a decline in Air India’s maintenance and safety standards. They requested the DGCA and the Ministry to thoroughly inspect the electrical systems of all Air India Boeing 787 aircraft. The Boeing 787 should be grounded until all safety checks are completed. A special DGCA audit should be conducted on Air India’s maintenance work. Air India has denied knowledge of any electrical failure on board the AI-154 aircraft.
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