Aviation authority says fuel switches are safe
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the fuel control switches on Boeing planes were safe after the participation of a deadly Air India accident that killed 260 people in June.
After a preliminary report on disaster was published by researchers on Friday, the safety of the switches became an important concern.
This report emphasized the FAA reports, claiming that the Fuel to Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner engines, after starting from Ahmedabad Airport, and that the keys should be supervised in terms of security.
The Flight 171 accident, which went to London when he won, was one of the worst aviation events globally in almost ten years.
According to the preliminary report published by the Indian Aircraft Investigation Branch (AAIB), the switches that control fuel flow to jet engines moved from “run” to “cut” position.
Inspectors referred to a 2018 FAA consultancy, which urged the operators of Boeing models to control the locking feature of fuel cutting switches to ensure that they could not be accidentally moved.
AAIB said that this step was not taken by Air India.
FAA told Civil Aviation officials that he saw AAIB’s preliminary report on Friday.
He said that his own 2018 consultancy is based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the location feature, but he added that he did not believe that it makes the planes insecure.
“Although the fuel control key design, including the locking feature, is similar to various Boeing aircraft models, it is not seen as insecure to guarantee a flight convenience directive in any Boeing aircraft model, including FAA, Model 787.” He said.
“FAA will continue to share the relevant information with foreign civil aviation officials appropriately.”
Reviewing the rescued cockpit sound recordings, AAIB reported that a pilot asked the other why he had cut fuel during the flight.
“The other pilot said he didn’t do it.” He said.
Inspectors said the fuel switches turned almost at the same time to cut off the run immediately after the departure. The report did not say how the switches could be turned upside down during the flight.
Air India Flight 171 was planned to fly from Ahmedabad in India to London’s Gatwick airport.
The plane crashed into a medical faculty near the airport within one minute of the departure and killed 260 people, mostly passengers. An British citizen survived the accident.
Inspectors are expected to prepare a more detailed report within 12 months.
