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Post Info TOPIC: Jinxed Jumbo ---VT-AIM is back?
karatecatman


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Jinxed Jumbo ---VT-AIM is back?
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Beat "Cricket" to this in airliners.net (Saw it today Indian Aviation Forum 19 --May 27, 2006 


 


Was the first to post this in Yahoo groups.. Reposting it here!!


 


Report in Mid-day (TYo be taken with a pinch of salt) 


 


Panvati plane
   By: Kashif Khusro
   May 24, 2006


Air-India (A-I) says it will not let this jinxed plane fly without
performing a pooja. The Boeing 747 VT-AIM was grounded in April
after it suffered three flat tyres in five months.

"It will be put to use only after a pooja is performed on an
auspicious day, to ward off all evil that has befallen the
aircraft," said a senior A-I engineering official.

According to A-I officials, Vaastu experts will also be consulted on
the aircraft's release date. "We normally hold a pooja when a new
aircraft is brought in, but this is the first time that a pooja will
be organised after repairs," said an official.

After the VT-AIM was grounded, A-I announced a high-level inquiry
into the tyre bursts. The committee consisted of A-I, the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Boeing and the tyre maker,
Bridgestone. The defects in the aircraft pointed out by the
committee were rectified after it was repaired and serviced at the
Kalina hangar.

Last week, it did a couple of test flights and was declared fit. But
the aircraft has not been put into service.

"We have completed all the checks on the aircraft and it fit for
scheduled operations," said Air India chairman and managing director
Vasudevan Thulasidas. He, however, refused to give a release date.

"The aircraft is not going to be returned to the leasing company and
it will remain with Air-India." Thulasidas, however, claimed he was
not aware of the pooja.

With the airline facing a severe shortage of aircraft, the pooja has
delayed the plane's use for nearly two weeks.

Sources pointed out that if one big aircraft like the 747 Jumbo —
which is used for long-haul flights to North America — is pulled out
of service, it could play havoc with schedules.

"All the standby aircraft have to be brought in to overcome the
shortage and if there is a technical fault with any other aircraft,
there could be huge delays," said a source.

The AIM can accommodate around 350 passengers.

Do it today!

"Today is the most auspicious day for Air-India to put the plane
back into service. "May 24 is the vaastu kalash and a very
auspicious day for any new beginning. If A-I does not perform the
pooja today, it will have to wait until June 7."
- Astrologer Satish Kumar Pandya

Tyre tales

December 19, 2005: Four right tyres of an LA-Frankfurt flight blow
during takeoff (below and inset). All 256 passengers and crew are
safe, but plane sustains substantial damage.

March 13: LA-bound flight is recalled after tyre pieces are found at
Delhi airport, where the flight originated. Aircraft makes emergency
landing in Mumbai.

April 1: Flight 137 to Frankfurt with 271 on board is diverted to
Mumbai after tyre pieces are found at Delhi airport once again.
Aircraft is temporarily grounded.







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the_380


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Quoting


Air-India (A-I) says it will not let this jinxed plane fly without
performing a pooja. The Boeing 747 VT-AIM was grounded in April
after it suffered three flat tyres in five months.


i feel three flat tyres is too less for AI



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karatecatman


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Still no news of VT-AIM.


AI chairman said it should be getting back to duty soon!!



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D-ABTH


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i could check the movement logs from BOM tonight and see where she's been if she's been anywhere....

as far as i know... to the best of my info... she hasnt been to FRA and on to LAX lately...

will confirm that soon hopefully

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HAWK21M


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No such thing as Jinxed Plane.I suspect the MLG.Check the Vendor.


regds


MEL



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karatecatman


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A friend in the IAF near Chennai airport says that an AI 747 was at Chennai in the morning (June 15, 9 a.m.). A few touch-downs and take-offs, circling around and then off in the Hyderabad direction. 


AI does not operate the 747 to Chennai.


Could this be VT-AIM?    



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HAWK21M


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Could be a Training Flight.Needing less traffic.


regds


MEL



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karatecatman


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Chennai airspace is quite congested now. Lot of activity domestic and international.


Friend said he thought he could make out a cargo door towards the middle/rear section which is why I asked if it could be the Jinxed Jumbo.   


Air India's training flights have now shifted to Ahmedabad. They use it for the 777 mainly and then the 737-800. 



-- Edited by karatecatman at 21:58, 2006-06-15

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D-ABTH


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its not unusual for AI..... AI often use BOM-MAA and BOM-BLR for training runs... even COK.... i know they did the same when the 772 first arrived in December... they did the training sorties departing early noon from BOM... and arriving back into BOM by evening

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karatecatman


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http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=192179


AI’s Sunderbans gets clean chit from Boeing
 
After series of tyre-burst incidents, aircraft sent to manufacturer for inspection, re-certification
 
Lekha Agarwal
 
Mumbai, July 10: Sunderbans, the 13-year-old leased Air India (AI) Boeing that was in a series of tyre-related incidents earlier in the year, last week received a clean chit from its manufacturer, Boeing.


The 747-400 combi bearing registration VT-AIM was sent to Boeing’s Seattle facility following an in-house AI panel recommendation that it be sent to the manufacturer for an inspection and re-certification.


 
 
Consequently, on July 3, the airplane—which is leased from Ireland-based Constitution Aircraft Leasing Ltd in April last year, at a cost of $45,000 per month for a period of three years—took off for the US after being grounded for almost two months at AI’s Kalina hangar.


Over a period of three days, (from July 5 to 7), a team of four AI engineers and two pilots overlooked the checks conducted by Boeing and set out for Mumbai via London Gatwick Airport on July 8.


The plane operated as a ferry flight, that is without any passengers, both ways, costing the AI exchequer over Rs 2 crore for the exercise.


‘‘About 200 tonnes of fuel both ways, crew salaries, hotel accommodation and about Rs 80 lakh paid to Boeing for their services. In all, we have easily spent in excess of Rs 2 crore on the airplane in the last week alone,’’ revealed an AI source, on condition of anonymity.


Though AI Executive Director (Public Relations) Jitender Bhargava confirmed that ‘‘the aircraft is back after a detailed inspection by Boeing’’, he refused comment on the expenses incurred.


Bhargava added that ‘‘AI engineers are currently studying the manufacturer’s recommendations and will submit their report to Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasisdas in a couple of days.’’


A final decision on when the aircraft will be pressed into service again will be taken later this week by Thulasisdas.


However, a spokesperson from the Indian Pilots Guild—the representative body for the Maharaja’s pilots—affirmed that ‘‘the aircraft is absolutely airworthy’’.


 


 



-- Edited by karatecatman at 14:10, 2006-07-11

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karatecatman


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RE: Jinxed Jumbo ---VT-AIM is back?
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DGCA's recommendations are also being incorporated. 

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HAWK21M


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Any Details on the work done.


regds


MEL



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karatecatman


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Air India source says the DGCA has suggested using nitrogen and oil for the landing gear for better shock absorption. There is also a list of inputs.


Guess it must be nitrogen for the tyres. But oil???


 



-- Edited by karatecatman at 18:52, 2006-07-12

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the_380


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May be for tel malish

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D-ABTH


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Nirtogen is for the tyres that is correct..... perhaps they recommend a highe Psi for the tyres than AI was using at the time of the incidents.. i would suspect different brands of tyres like Goodyear/Dunlop would be of different specifications within the acceptable standards for the particular type and would hence require their own optimum/allowable range of pressures for N2 to be used.

Oil i would assume is for general hydraulics?... its a common lubricant and can be used for just about any are that requires free play movement... perhaps the grade and specific type of oil would be more important.... Mel should know.

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HAWK21M


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They are referring to the Scoch strut Oleo Fluid & Nitrogen.


regds


MEL



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karatecatman


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Air India inducts Sunderbans back in service after thorough inspections
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MONDAY, JULY 17, 2006 --- SUNDERBANS is back!! 


 


http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressnews/airindiasunderbans/aiinductssunderbansbackserviceafterinspections/market/stocks/article/227872


Air India inducts Sunderbans back in service after thorough inspections 
 
2006-07-17 13:45    
 

The Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft of Air India, Sunderbans, which was involved in incidents of tyre burst and subsequently had been grounded by the Company, has been brought back into service after thorough inspections and checks by competent authorities.


 


A high level Committee under the Chairmanship of the Executive Director-Air Safety of Air India had been constituted for this purpose.   The Committee had amongst others representatives of DGCA, Boeing and the Tyre manufacturing companies Goodrich, Goodyear and Bridgestone.  Based on the Committee's findings, all corrective action required has since been taken.


 


Air India thereafter sent the aircraft to Boeing, Seattle in USA for a thorough inspection with a view to eliminate any lingering doubts on the technical status of the aircraft and its airworthiness.  After detailed inspection and tests, the Boeing Company has confirmed that the aircraft is fully serviceable and could be inducted back in service.  Prior to this, Air India had also conducted test flights and found the aircraft fit. 


 


Sourced From : Perfect Relations Limited


Don;t miss this!


 


 



-- Edited by karatecatman at 15:59, 2006-07-17

-- Edited by karatecatman at 16:03, 2006-07-17

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karatecatman


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RE: Jinxed Jumbo ---VT-AIM is back?
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http://www.perfectrelations.com/index.HTML

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karatecatman


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Appointed in 2005


http://www.blonnet.com/2005/08/20/stories/2005082003120800.htm


AI appoints Perfect Relations as its PR agency


Our Bureau




Mumbai , Aug. 19

AIR India has appointed Perfect Relations Ltd as its public relations agency for the country.

The agency will be responsible for continuous image audit, media relations, communication counsel and advice on regular basis to develop an effective channel of communication to consumers, employees, trade and other partners.

According to an official release, the PR agency has been appointed to project the right corporate image for the airline in light of its recent network expansion and fleet acquisition plans.

The PR agency would enable AI to respond faster to local issues and ensure a coordinated approach to local issues faced by the airline, the statement said.

The PR agency would also help the airline to disseminate corporate messages and execute strategies. The agency has also been mandated to facilitate speedy responses to media queries in regions where Air-India does not have an active presence. All subsidiaries of the airline would fall under this agreement.

As of March 31, 2005, Air-India had 61 online (including code share) and 40 offline stations in its network, it said.


 


 



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the_380


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When are they doing the puja path of the aircraft

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