AI Boeing 787 RAT deployment: DGCA issues directives for airline & seeks info from Boeing

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Air India to reinspect the ram air turbine (RAT) for storage on all aircraft whose power conditioning module (PCM) was replaced in the recent past. PCM provides power for other modules that support the operation of multiple aircraft systems. RAT deployment happens when the system senses either electric, hydraulic or twin engine failure. The directive aims to check any correlation between newly replaced PCM and RAT deployment.
Following the un-commanded deployment of RAT on an AI Boeing 787 last Saturday just before landing in the UK, the regulator has asked the US aerospace major to submit a "comprehensive report outlining the preventive measures to be implemented in respect of the un-commanded" RAT deployment.

"Boeing has been requested to provide a comprehensive report outlining the preventive measures to be implemented in respect of the un-commanded RAT deployment incident; detailed information regarding similar un-commanded RAT deployments occurred globally on Boeing 787 series aircraft... and any service difficulty report received from aircraft operators worldwide after change PCM module," said a senior DGCA official.


Air India has been advised to review its major maintenance. "Further investigation is in progress," said the official on the RAT deployment.

On October 4, 2025, an Air India B787-8 (VT-ANO) saw its RAT deploy when it was about to land in Birmingham. "During landing at 400 feet RAT unlock message came and RAT got deployed. Pilot did not report of any related abnormality. aircraft landed safely. Boeing recommended maintenance actions for uncommanded RAT deployment were carried out and no discrepancy was observed. Accordingly, aircraft was released for service and was brought back to Delhi on October 5," said an official.

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