Soon after their induction into the fleet of the then government-owned Air India Limited (AAL) in September 2012, the batch of all six brand new Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliners’ were grounded for over four months (from January 17, 2013 to June 4, 2013) because of a malfunctioning of their lithium-ion batteries, a 2017 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had revealed then.
In total, AIL had ordered 27 B-787-800 aircraft from M/s Boeing.
Chosen for their high-energy density and long cycle life, lithium-ion batteries in the aircraft were used for starting the auxilliary power unit (APU) and providing backup power for electronic flight systems.
However, they come with inherent safety risks, such as fires, if a short-circuit or high operating temperature occurs.
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The CAG has described the aircraft’s mechanical defect as “a design deficiency attributable to M/s Boeing”.
The CAG’s findings are now significant in the backdrop of the crash of a ‘Dreamliner’ operating on the Ahmedabad-London route on June 12.
Considered to be the worst aviation disaster of a single aircraft in India’s aviation history, the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel located near the Ahmedabad International Airport, about 30 seconds after take-off. The crash killed at least 246 people, including 241 onboard the aircraft.
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Technical snags continuously plagued the ‘Dreamliner’ since its inception in AIL’s fleet, leading to its grounding for 274 hours in 2013, and 1,464 hours in 2016.
The national auditor also said that some of these problems were of a recurring nature.
Another key finding by the national auditor was the higher weight of the B-787-800 aircraft.
“On receipt of the aircraft, it was observed that the empty weight of the aircraft was higher by ten tonnes, resulting in additional fuel consumption.”
