IndiGo removes altitude restriction on the snag hit planes

Despite continuing teething problems, the largest operator of Airbus A320 neo, IndiGo has removed the altitude restriction on the snag hit planes. This is after the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney informed the customer airlines that altitude restriction will not increase the durability of the air seal around the No 3 bearing compartment.

Footage from flight tracker website Flightradar24 showed that the other Indian airline A320 neo operator GoAir is still adhering to the altitude restriction and flying the neos at 30,000 feet.

In a notification to pilots, the airline said that from September 1, altitude restriction on Neo aircraft stands revoked.

“Commencing from September 1, planning of cruising flight levels will be as earlier on performance, environmental and other common factors irrespective of the engine type IAE, CFM or NEO up to Airbus limits as per flight command,” IndiGo wrote in the note which was reviewed by Business Standard.

Sources familiar with the situation said the altitude restriction did not serve any purpose of solving the problem with the No 3 bearing component which was resulting in glitch in the engine’s lubrication system. “Pratt and Whitney told us that flying at lower altitude is not a solution, while they are working on the solution, we will fly at normal altitude which will give us the best results in terms of fuel consumption,” an airline official aware of the developments said. Flying at lower altitude consumes more fuel which may negate the advantage of efficiency that the 1100G geared turbofan engines provide.
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