DGCA issues advisory to airlines on rudder system risks in Boeing 737 aircraft

On Monday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to Indian airlines operating Boeing 737 aircraft, addressing the potential risk of a jammed rudder control system.

This advisory follows a recent investigation report by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that raised safety concerns related to Boeing 737 planes equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators.

In light of the identified risks, the DGCA has provided safety recommendations to Indian carriers, including Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, which collectively operate nearly 100 Boeing 737 aircraft.

In August, Boeing notified affected operators about a potential issue with the rudder rollout guidance actuator, a component that aligns the airplane's rudder with its nose wheel during takeoff and landing to ensure proper control during critical flight phases.

An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed that the advisory pertains to only five of their aircraft and stated that compliance processes have already begun.

Meanwhile, a SpiceJet spokesperson indicated that none of its Boeing 737 NG aircraft are affected.

The DGCA's advisory mandates that all flight crews be informed of the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control system through a circular.

The regulator emphasized the need for appropriate mitigations to help crews recognize and manage such situations.

Additionally, all operators are required to conduct a safety risk assessment to evaluate and mitigate the risks associated with the rudder control system.

The DGCA has also suspended all Category III B approach, landing, and rollout operations for these aircraft until further notice.

This category pertains to operations conducted in low-visibility conditions.

To further enhance safety, airlines must include discussions about potential rudder control system issues in recurrent training sessions.

This topic will also be integrated into Instrument Rating/Proficiency Checks (IR/PPC) during pre-simulator briefings.

Operators are instructed to incorporate specific exercises simulating scenarios involving a jammed or restricted rudder control system, focusing on rollout procedures.

The DGCA stressed that practicing appropriate flight crew responses and mitigations during these exercises is crucial.

The interim measures aim to bolster safety and ensure flight crews are adequately prepared to address any potential rudder control issues effectively.

Boeing also reiterated its commitment to safety, stating that the autoland system features multiple redundancies and that they are collaborating with suppliers to develop additional guidance on the potential condition identified in the August notification.