By Sunil Goyal
Ahmedabad plane crash: India’s roads are seeing a zero-tolerance attitude towards old vehicles: 10-year-old diesel cars and 15-year-old petrol ones are de-registered on a regular basis even if they’ve traveled minimal miles and clear all emissions tests. Owners cry foul: if a 10-year-old diesel car is free of emissions and in good condition, why does it have to be junked? Authorities do not budge from adopting performance-based tests but stick to this age-based system.
In contrast, India’s air industry permits aircraft to fly well over 20 years, given strict inspections and maintenance are maintained. Commercial airplanes, such as Boeing 787s, have a typical lifespan of 20–30 years. Their viability depends on data-driven rules two decades more than the 10-year limit placed upon automobiles.
This background renders the tragedy earlier today in Ahmedabad all the more poignant. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 passengers and crew on board from Ahmedabad to Gatwick London, crashed just a few minutes after departure, landing in a residential neighborhood close to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
It is the first fatal hull loss for the 787 type since it started operation. Researchers are investigating potential technical or configuration problems on departure reports indicate flaps/slats might not have been set properly, and landing gear stayed out longer than usual.
The plane was roughly 11 years old and had over 41,000 hours of flying time but was in normal service and even suffered a technical glitch six months ago and still was certified to fly. Its age did not make it unsuitable. It was unlike aged cars, which were checked and maintained regularly on a systematic basis, simulation, and based on performance years of service included.
Glaring disparity
This catastrophic misfit is symptomatic of a glaring disparity: road vehicles are assessed exclusively on age, whereas aircraft are assessed on operational history and condition. The Dreamliner accident highlights the need for real-time data, diagnostics, and inspections practice that is consistently applied in aviation but conspicuously missing from road transport policy.
If the goal is to curb pollution and ensure safety, perhaps it’s time to adopt aviation-grade standards for all vehicles: annual fitness tests, emission monitoring, on-board diagnostics, and maintenance logs. Wouldn’t a car that performs flawlessly for a decade, with clean emissions, deserve the same treatment as a 25-year-old Boeing that’s still allowed to fly?
