DGCA allows validation flight: IndiGo may soon fly its PW-powered Neos on longer overseas routes
NEW DELHI: IndiGo could soon be allowed to operate its Airbus A320/321 Neos with Pratt & Whitney’s (PW) modified engines on sectors where a diversion airport is more than 60 minutes away on any point of the flight routing.
The airline had this October sought Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) nod to extend the extended diversion time operations (EDTO) for its PW-powered Neos from the earlier 60 minutes to 90 minutes now. The regulator last week asked IndiGo to conduct a validation flight and share the result of the same, after which it could increase the diversion time for this aircraft if satisfied in terms of safety parameters.
The extended EDTO is mainly applicable for overseas flights, like some sectors from Kerala to the Gulf, where at some point of the journey the aircraft is more than 60 minutes away from the nearest airport where it may have to divert to for any technical reason. In 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.
