DGCA allows Pratt-powered A320neos allowed to fly longer overseas routes
NEW DELHI: India has now allowed the Pratt & Whitney (PW)-powered Airbus A320neo family of aircraft to fly longer overseas routes where a diversion airport is more than 60 minutes away on any point of the flight routing. In India this combination is used by IndiGo — the world’s largest customer for the new engine option (neo) A320/21s — and GoAir.
“Till date, we have not heard of any problem with PW modified engines in any part of the world and therefore the time seems right for taking this call (extending the ‘extended diversion time operations” or EDTO’) from 60 to 90 minutes,” said a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official.
The regulator is also planning to allow these planes and the CFM-powered A320neos of Vistara and IndiGo to fly to Port Blair, lifting a restriction imposed about two years ago.
In the event of an engine shutdown or failure, twin engine jets can safely land on one engine at a nearest airport. The maximum allowed time within which that can be done is set by EDTO requirements and that determines routings for that type of aircraft and the sectors on which they can operate.
