Aviation

IndiGo to have 1,000 daily flights by year-end

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NEW DELHI: In a first for Indian carriers, IndiGo will be operating 1,000 daily flights before the end of this year. It got on track to cross that milestone with the announcement of 47 new flights (19 new sectors and 28 additional flights) on Monday which will see it operating 1,000 daily flights from December 23, 2017.

IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said: “A thousand daily flights is a milestone that no airline in India has ever achieved before. As Indians we are proud to create this new record. While one thousand is just a number, for us each flight represents an opportunity for millions to chase their dreams. As we approach this mark, we cannot hide our excitement and thank our over a hundred million customers who have made this journey possible!”

IndiGo currently has 142 Airbus A-320s in its fleet, with over 400 narrow body planes still on order. IndiGo promoters have signaled their intent on operating wide body aircraft to long haul international routes.

IndiGo reaches 200 million passengers mark

Adding yet another milestone to its credit, IndiGo, country’s largest and
the fastest-growing carrier, flew its 200 millionth passenger thereby reaching another historic
milestone in eleven years of operations. The 200 millionth passenger – Ms Bheeni Kapur who flew from
Delhi on IndiGo flight 6E-6929 – was greeted by IndiGo staff on checking in at Delhi airport with a
boarding card placard, a bouquet and a hamper of goodies. On board the flight, IndiGo made a special
announcement to recognize its 200 millionth passenger Ms Kapur who also received a complimentary
on-board meal box.
After our 200 millionth passenger took off today, every following customer received a thank you card
at the boarding gates across stations. The milestone underlines IndiGo’s position as the country’s
largest and fastest-growing carrier with 149 Airplanes including 1 ATR aircraft connecting 49
destinations.

Courtesy : TOI

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”