Nagpur: Amid joyful chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’, Air India Boeing 777 named Goa finally took off for a test flight on Friday after being grounded for nearly five years at the MRO depot in Mihan SEZ. The aircraft completed the flight successfully and landed safely, marking a significant milestone in its long wait to return to service. A video shared on X captured the emotional moment as the aircraft lifted off while people at the site chanted ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ in celebration.The captain took off at around 2pm and flew the aircraft to Ahmedabad while the crew conducted several in-flight tests to check whether all systems were functioning properly. If the results continue to remain positive, the aircraft could soon be deployed on long-haul international routes, according to sources.While the test flight was reportedly successful, the aircraft still requires further approvals before it can carry passengers. At present, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cleared it only for the test flight.The aircraft has since returned to the MRO hangar in Mihan SEZ. A DGCA team is expected to visit within a week to carry out a final inspection before granting approval for commercial operations. Though it was initially expected to operate on domestic routes, there are also plans to deploy it on international services, sources said.The aircraft had arrived at Air India Engineering Services Limited’s MRO facility in Mihan SEZ in February 2020 for a routine C-check, a comprehensive maintenance process that usually takes about 28 to 30 days. However, the aircraft ended up remaining grounded for almost six years.The delay began when one of its spare parts was removed to service another Boeing 777. Over time, the aircraft gradually became a source of spare parts for other planes as the aviation industry faced shortages. Eventually, when its airworthiness certificate expired, it was effectively used as a parts donor for other aircraft.During this period, Air India was also taken over by the Tata Group. Despite Goa providing several of its components for other aircraft, replacement supplies were delayed, sources said.According to MRO officials, bringing the aircraft back to flying condition after being grounded for over five years is a significant achievement. “It’s great that the aircraft is now fit to fly again,” a source said.However, the situation also underscores the importance of efficient spare-parts management in the aviation sector, as MRO facilities rely heavily on original equipment manufacturers for critical components.How Boeing 777 became GoaAir India traditionally names some of its aircraft after Indian states. This Boeing 777, with the call sign VT-ALLL, was named Goa. After years on the ground, the aircraft is now finally preparing to return to the skies, , said a source involved in the maintenance.
