New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India issued an advisory on Monday (Oct 7) regarding potential risks of jamming or impaired radar control systems in Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 rudder rollout guidance actuators. This advisory follows safety concerns highlighted in a recent US NTSB Aviation Investigation Report. Operators utilizing this specific combination of systems are urged to take necessary precautions to ensure flight safety.

In a statement, the DGCA said it had considered the recent US NTSB Aviation Investigation Report, which highlighted safety concerns for Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 rudder rollout guidance actuators. Considering the potential risk of a jammed or restricted rudder control system, the DGCA has issued the following interim safety recommendations with immediate effect to all Indian operators of Boeing 737 aircraft:

1. Issuance of Circulars/Advisory: All flight crews should be informed through a circular/advisory of the possibility of a jammed or restricted rudder control system. Crews should liaise with appropriate mitigation to help identify and manage such situations.

2. Safety Risk Assessment: All operators should conduct a safety risk assessment for the aircraft to assess and mitigate the risks associated with the rudder control system.

3. Discontinue CAT III B approach and rollout operations: All Category III B approaches, landings and rollout operations (including practice or actual autolanding) should be suspended for aircraft until further notice.

4. Mandatory training briefing: A discussion of potential rudder control system issues should be included as a mandatory part of the pre-simulator briefing in the recurrent training session and instrument rating/proficiency test (IR/PPC).

5. Recurrent training exercises: Operators are asked to include specific exercises in recurrent training and IR/PPC that simulate situations involving jammed or impaired rudder control systems, including rollout procedures. Appropriate flight crew response and mitigation exercises should be conducted during this exercise.

"These interim measures are intended to enhance safety and ensure that flight crews are well prepared to effectively address potential radar control issues, pending more detailed operational guidance from Boeing/FAA," the DGCA statement said.

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