'All Air India aircraft records handed over'

AI Engineering Services (AIESL), the former maintenance arm of Air India, said on Sunday that it handed over all aircraft records to the airline that took over the maintenance oversight after its acquisition by the Tata Group."We are confident that the records we provided were complete and in full compliance with all regulatory standards," AIESL chief executive Sharad Agarwal said in response to ET's queries.AIESL is now a subsidiary of AI Assets Holding Company, a government-owned entity that owns the Air India assets that were not part of its privatisation in 2022.122939948The comments come as India's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), investigates potential engineering lapses at Air India following a Boeing 787 crash last month that killed 260 people.During an audit in June, the DGCA found that there were gaps in practices. The airline has allegedly been operating multiple components in aircraft beyond their life period.People aware of the development had told ET that the new owners implemented a newer-generation system called AMOS and imported all maintenance records in 2024."As a matter of policy, we do not comment on issues concerning our business partners," Agarwal said. "We have a long-standing and positive relationship with Air India, and we hold the Tata Group in the highest regard."He said all engineering documents were formally handed over when Air India assumed responsibility for maintenance oversight. "The handover was conducted in close coordination with Air India's engineering team," he said.AIESL, now operating independently after Air India's privatisation, still handles line maintenance for the airline's widebody fleet like the Boeing 777 and 787.Air India and the DGCA have not commented on whether the aircraft involved in the crash had components fitted beyond their certified lifespan while under AIESL's maintenance. The investigation remains ongoing.Aggarwal highlighted the company's recent efforts to enhance its capabilities as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider."We now operate our hangars 24/7, which has dramatically reduced maintenance turnaround times," Agarwal said, noting that its facilities in Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Delhi and Nagpur are upgraded to meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards. The Thiruvananthapuram site has also received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.The company also offers rapid-response aircraft on ground (AOG) recovery services and has partnered with airlines on training initiatives.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/uEKhFfs