Air India to upgrade avionics, critical components of Dreamliners to reduce operational issues
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI): Air India on Sunday said it will upgrade the avionics and other critical components of its 26 legacy B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft to reduce operational disruptions as well as improve overall reliability.
In recent times, the airline has faced operational issues with some of its planes, including the Dreamliner.
Air India's Dreamliners -- 26 legacy 787-8s and seven 787-9s -- had undergone checks, including that of fuel switches, after the fatal crash of a London Gatwick-bound 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad that killed 260 people on June 12.
Under the USD 400 million fleet retrofit programme announced in December 2022, the Tata Group-owned airline has now started the retrofit of the first legacy Dreamliner, which was flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025.
"A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, with both expected to return to service in December 2025," the carrier said in a statement on Sunday.
As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, the airline said it will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards, thus improving their reliability.
"The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing's service information bulletins.
"This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both Air India and its customers," the statement said.
Additionally, the airline said seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet's long-term operational excellence.
The retrofit of the legacy Dreamliners is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and the retrofitted planes will have a three-class configuration -- Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats.
"Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays," the statement said.
Air India has around 190 narrow-body and wide-body planes.
The airline's retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320 neo aircraft that commenced last September is expected to be completed in September this year.
So far, 16 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted.
Air India has also decided to retrofit its 13 legacy A321 ceo planes that were earlier planned to be taken out of service.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
