Posted on 10/06/2025 7:32:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
An Boeing 787 Dreamliner was forced to deploy its emergency Ram Air Turbine during final approach to Birmingham Airport on Saturday. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Birmingham landed safely on Saturday, October 4, after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed during its final approach.
The flight AI117 departed Amritsar Saturday, October 4 2025 for a 10-hour flight to Birmingham, UK. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANO) landed on runway 33 at 19:07 BST while pilots detected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine during final approach to Birmingham.
According to an Air India spokesperson, the aircraft’s electrical and hydraulic systems were operating normally despite the RAT deployment, with all parameters found normal throughout the approach and landing. “All parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham,” the spokesperson confirmed, emphasizing that safety protocols were strictly followed throughout the operation.
Air India flight AI117 on Saturday, October 4 2025 What is a Ram Air Turbine? The Ram Air Turbine is a small, fold-out windmill-like device designed to generate emergency power in case of failure of the main electrical or hydraulic systems. The RAT helps maintain control of essential flight instruments and hydraulic pressure, ensuring safe aircraft handling during emergencies.
The turbine deploys automatically or can be manually activated when aircraft systems detect loss of normal power generation. Once deployed, the device extends into the airstream, where wind force spins the turbine to generate emergency electrical and hydraulic power.
Significantly, Air India confirmed that the aircraft’s electrical and hydraulic systems were operating normally despite the RAT deployment. This suggests that while the emergency system activated, the primary aircraft systems continued functioning, potentially indicating a false trigger or precautionary deployment.
Aircraft Grounded for Inspection Following the incident, the aircraft was immediately grounded for detailed inspections to determine why the RAT deployed and to ensure the aircraft’s airworthiness before returning to service.
As a result of the aircraft being grounded for inspections, the return flight AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi was cancelled. Air India confirmed it is making alternative arrangements to accommodate affected passengers and minimize disruption, including rebooking on alternative flights and potentially deploying substitute aircraft to clear the backlog.
Imagine a guy scratching his butt and then the plane takes off!......................
Check out Joseph Carter, the mink man. Goes after rats with his dogs and trained minks.
The RAT deploys automatically when the system senses an electrical or hydraulic failure. This is pure speculation based on thousands of hours experience in Boeing aircraft but none in the 787:
Was there a large demand on the hydraulic system, such as landing gear deployment or flap extention? Low hydraulic level could cause a momentary loss of pressure.
Was this a fully coupled, fail active, autopilot ILS approach? At 1500 feet the electrical system splits to ensure power to each of the three autopilots in case of a single electrical failure. Did the system detect a momentary system failure?
Both of these could be traced to lackluster maintenance procedures. Design failure??? Nah. This system configuration has been used since the 1980s and the 757, 767, and 777. I’ve never heard of it happening before.
EC
Open the tailgate and deploy the RATS.
I’ve MFn had it, with these MFn RATs on this MFin plane.
AIR INDIA.............
Nice that they took their voting habits back with them.
I had no idea until now that such a system existed and I think it’s reassuring that they have a backup power generation method.
It's too much!
I suspect that is deep into the backgrounds of the pilots trying to figure out which one turned off the fuel.
I think they're trying to figure out just WHO turned off the fuel.
Hahahahahah...now that sounds like an "Airplane" element! (they did have that scene where the guy is directing the plane!)
You did well to remember and describe those hand signals.
Yes, but can you properly pronounce the names of both Birmingham AL and Birmingham UK? :) ?
Software has been in the cockpit since the 1970s.
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“ … A RAT, or Ram Air Turbine, is just a small fan that normally sits stowed
inside the airframe. When primary power is lost, it swings into the
airstream and spins, converting airflow into usable power.
Depending on the aircraft, that rotation drives a hydraulic pump, an
electrical generator, or both.
The output is limited, so you can’t fly the aircraft like nothing happened.
The RAT supplies power only to essentials such as flight controls and
core avionics. This lets the crew maneuver the aircraft, navigate,
communicate, and land safely in an emergency.”
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I learned something new today, thanks!
It’s the Ram Air Turbine and can be deployed manually and The RAT generates power from the air stream by ram pressure due to the speed of the aircraft. It may be called an air driven generator (ADG) on some aircraft.
Why a rat? Why a rat? Why a no gerbil?
The RAT deploys when one or both engines stop running. It supplies bare bones electricity and hydraulics. IF it deploys when both engines are up and running, it is a computer fault….either software design, failed sensors, or faulty computers.It can affect flight control systems.
A very serious condition. The Air India crash revealed five or six previous RAT deployment events reported prior to the crash. This can be a major problem for Boeing and their woke engineering team.
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