Avianca has temporarily grounded its fleet of Fokker 50 turboprops, following an engine malfunction in Cali.
The Bogota-based carrier says that it grounded the fleet as a preventative measure after making “all the proper inspections and going through all the safety procedures” with the aircraft, in a statement.
Avianca operates nine Fokker 50s, Flightglobal’s Ascend Online database shows.
The malfunction occurred before take-off on a flight from Cali to Tumaco on 28 January.
The Fokker 50 uses two Pratt & Whitney PW127B engines.
Avianca will modify its schedules as a result of the grounding and replace some Fokker 50 operated flights with ATR 72-600 or Airbus A320 aircraft, it says. Available seat miles (ASMs) will decrease by about 0.3%.
Impacted routes include Bogota to Manizales, Armenia, Pasto, Popayan, Florencia, Yopal, Barrancabermeja, Neiva and Ibagué, and Tumaco to Cali, Pasto and Medellin.
The carrier is in the process of replacing its Fokker 50s with ATR 72-600s. It operates four ATR 72s and has a firm order for four more aircraft, according to Ascend.
Pratt & Whitney was not immediately available for comment.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
