Initially bound for Bengaluru, an AirAsia India flight from Pune aborted take-off at the very last minute on November 6th. The take-off was safely rejected and eventually returned to the aircraft gate for passengers to disembark while it underwent inspection and repairs for a technical issue.
An AirAsia India spokesperson confirmed the aborted take-off, saying in a statement:
“AirAsia India flight I5 1427 operating from Pune to Bengaluru canceled take-off and returned to the bay due to a technical reason. AirAsia India regrets the inconvenience to guests caused due to the delay.”
Flying with hot brakes
The flight was operated using the low-cost carrier’s Airbus A320-200, registered as VT-BKK. At nearly 13 years old, the Airbus narrowbody was initially operated by IndiGo before AirAsia India leased the aircraft to capture more slots made available when Jet Airways suspended its operations. The aircraft carried 180 passengers that day, and everything seemed routine until the aborted take-off.
But what was the technical issue? While the aircraft was entering the initial take-off roll at a speed of almost 50 knots on runway 28, the pilots of I5 1427 received a ‘Brake Hot ECAM Caution,’ which led to the pilots deciding to abort the take-off altogether. The warning caution meant that up until that moment, the Airbus A320’s brake fan was operating under the minimum equipment list.
While the pilots could have chosen to still take-off as the brakes would cool when airborne, it may not always be the case. Hot brakes may lead to fires. If the aircraft had departed and retracted those gears, it might cause significant damage to the aircraft. As such, it was time for the aircraft’s brake fan to be repaired, as it was no longer safe to use.
Fortunately, the Airbus A320 was inspected, repaired, and eventually deemed operational. And albeit everyone was safe and the flight was still uneventful, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will investigate the case.
A shortage of spares
Although it was fortunate that I5 1427 remained relatively uneventful and the Airbus narrowbody managed to get repaired and returned to operations, it still does highlight a string of technical or mechanical incidents revolving around the Indian aviation industry as of late. Just last month, an IndiGo Airbus A320 rejected take-off at Delhi Airport after its engine failed and began generating sparks and flames.
However, these incidents also underscore an even more significant issue of a global shortage of spare parts, making it hard for airlines to maintain their fleets properly. For IndiGo, the global problem is hitting hard as the budget carrier joins a growing list of airlines that are forced to ground a portion of its fleet to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruptions and to ensure the continuity of network and operations still.
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This is why IndiGo, alongside other Indian carriers such as AirAsia India, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet, have opted to lease aircraft to meet short- to medium-term operational needs. Still, even leasing tends to be a temporary solution due to currency depreciation and volatility in fuel prices, and as more incidents spring up within the Indian aviation industry, it is unlikely that IndiGo will be the only carrier partially grounding its fleet.
Source: ZeeNews
Airbus
- Stock Code:
- AIR
- Date Founded:
- 1970-12-18
- CEO:
- Guillaume Faury
- Headquarters Location:
- Toulouse, France
- Key Product Lines:
- Airbus A220, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380
- Business Type:
- Planemaker
