India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has given IndiGo and GoAir more time to modify Pratt & Whitney engines powering their Airbus A320neo planes.
In the wake of multiple incidents involving Pratt & Whitney engines, the DGCA had set certain deadlines for the two airlines to carry out changes to the aircraft engines.
"... as the task is onerous and availability of such engines is an issue, we have now asked them to complete the task in a slightly modified timeline i.e. Nov. 24, 2019," the aviation regulator said in a statement on Friday.
Directives were issued by DGCA on Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 11, with regard to change of engines with modified Low-Pressure Turbine. Engines of 16 Airbus A320neo planes of IndiGo were to be modified by Nov. 12 and 23 by Nov. 19., while 13 such aircraft of GoAir were to be fixed by Nov. 13.
"The position has been reviewed and we are happy to note that the airlines have made substantial progress with regard to the directives issued dated Oct. 28 and 29," DGCA said.
The directive to IndiGo on complete change of all P&W engines with modified LPT by Jan. 31 remains in force. "In case of non-adherence to any of the timelines...will entail grounding of such aircraft after the due date," the aviation regulator said.
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