AI Pilots Conduct Simulator Tests on Boeing 787-8 Following Ahmedabad Crash Incident

Senior pilots at Air India recently conducted simulator tests to recreate challenging flight conditions. They simulated scenarios like flying with increased weight and temperature, and with gear down and flaps retracted at 50 feet. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft managed to continue flying under these conditions, according to sources.

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The simulator tests were independently carried out by trainers of the Air India Boeing 787 fleet at the airline's Mumbai facility. This happened shortly after the crash of an Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad. Air India clarified that the pilots conducted these tests on their own initiative, without any involvement from the airline.

Simulator Tests and Crash Investigation

The crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI 171. The aircraft was heading to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed into a medical hostel complex in Meghani Nagar shortly after takeoff. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 lost their lives, with only one survivor. The total death toll reached 260, including those on the ground.

Following the tragedy, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launched a probe on June 13. A multidisciplinary team was formed, including representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an air traffic control officer, and an aviation medicine specialist.

Understanding Flaps and Their Role

Flaps are movable panels along the trailing edge of an aircraft's wings. They extend during takeoff and landing to increase wing surface area, providing more lift. This additional aerodynamic force is crucial during low-speed flight phases like takeoff or landing. Pilots adjust flaps manually based on flight conditions, keeping them retracted during cruise flight.

Among initial theories about the crash cause was that the pilot flew with retracted flaps and gear down. During training, pilots simulated AI 171 flight conditions independently. They aimed to recreate slightly adverse conditions such as higher weight and temperature while maintaining gear down and retracting flaps at a 50-foot altitude.

Ongoing Investigations

The government announced last week that data extraction from black boxes is underway. Analysis of both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder is in progress to reconstruct events leading to the fatal crash on June 12.

The simulator tests aimed to understand if similar conditions could have contributed to the accident. Despite adverse settings, the aircraft continued flying in simulations, suggesting other factors might have been involved in the crash.

With inputs from PTI