Air India Dreamliner takes off for Frankfurt

Air India Dreamliner takes off for Frankfurt<br /><br />SPOTLIGHTRevolutionary TechMahindra electric two wheeler GenZe for USThe Mahindra Group unveiled its first ever electric two wheeler, GenZe, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It has a range of around 30 miles 48 km on a full charge.<br /><br />Now, Parrot unveils a drone controlled by smartphone10 Google inventions that could change your lifeOpinionWhat a strong Modi govt implies for markets economyNarendra Modi achieved astonishing success in spreading the message that he had produced good results in Gujarat and could do the same for India.<br /><br />Last 11 months most eventful period in Narendra Modi lifeNarendra Modi rose while India sankUP Bihar: Poll PointsUP embraces Modi, Bihar bats for Lalu PrasadFed up with the exorbitant prices for goods and rising cost of farming, increasingly smaller land holdings, voters of UP desperately wanted change.<br /><br />Exit polls predict massive gains for BJP in Uttar PradeshExit polls predict NDA to be biggest gainer in BiharRaghuram Rajan: Challenges Ahead?Rajans inflation focus may be challenged by new govtChange in guard in Delhi and with it new approach towards economic policy management could trigger a review of the current stance on monetary policy.<br /><br />Surging inflows may create twin problems for RajanIndia needs to bring down inflation for sustainable growth: RajanAlly Hunt BeginsBJP focusses on allies; reaches out to BJD, AIADMKBJP has already opened talks with its former partner, Naveen Patnaik led BJD. 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But, if the NDA manages to get 300 315 seats, the markets will go up some more.<br /><br />Monster rally on the cards post elections! How to trade market ahead of the election results?Brand WarsWhy HUL, Cremica are launching premium offerings?Their imported gourmet offerings sold in the uber chic retail environment are providing the perfect backdrop for the category growth.<br /><br />Mother Dairy to launch Dhara in smaller packs to reclaim marketKejriwals tricks to convert e comm sites visitors into buyers<br /><br />On Monday afternoon, Air Indias Boeing 787 VT ANE took off from Delhi to Frankfurt with 202 people on board. Three hours into the flight when flight AI 121 was over Afghanistan, the aircrafts transponders failed. Three hours into the flight when flight AI 121 was over Afghanistan, the aircrafts transponders failed.<br /><br />Among other functions, this equipment gives information about the aircraft to enroute air traffic controllers. An aircraft cannot enter Europe without a working transponder as it will be ring alarm bells reserved for unidentified aircraft and lead to scrambling of fighter jets. So AI had to fly it back to Delhi!<br /><br />Incidentally, this is the second time in just over a month that the same Dreamliner VT ANE had to return to origin due to transponder failure. On January 19, it had taken off from London and two hours later when it was over Germany, the transponders failed. The aircraft then barely made it in time back to Heathrow before night curfew there kicked in.<br /><br />In all, AI Dreamliners have suffered transponder failures thrice in as many months. The first instance was on December 17 when a Delhi Paris flight went blank on Charles de Gaulle radar and the plane was allowed to land only after identifying itself to the French ATC. Incidentally, the captain of the Paris flight was in command on Mondays failed transponder Delhi Frankfurt flight also. The senior commander, Alind Pramanick, adroitly handled both these trick situations to ensure his unidentified plane lands safely, say sources.<br /><br />Transponders play several crucial roles: they gives collision warning to the pilot if another aircraft gets too close for comfort; pilots can use it to send distress signal discreetly to ATC and finally, it gives all details of the aircraft on the blips that appear on ATC radars. The emergency situations that transponders are used to warn ground controllers about are communication failure, hijack and any other emergency. Problems with this equipment in a brand new plane are rare, say pilots.<br /><br />Sources in AI complain bitterly that the unreliability of this brand new plane is bringing further bad name for the airline. It was supposed to be the panacea for all our ills but it has added to our woes. On time performance was our weak spot which we hoped will improve with B 787 but that has not happened. Passengers are upset because of delays and cancellations and we have to spend more on giving them hotels whenever such things happen, said an official.