New Delhi- In a resolute move aimed at reinforcing aviation safety standards, the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a one-month suspension on Air India’s Chief of Flight Safety. This disciplinary action follows a comprehensive inspection conducted on July 25-26, which unveiled critical shortcomings in the airline’s accident prevention protocols.
With a substantial fleet size of 121 aircraft, Air India came under scrutiny during the DGCA’s surveillance operation. The inspection revealed deficiencies in accident prevention practices, as well as concerning gaps in the availability of essential technical manpower, as mandated by the approved Flight Safety Manual and relevant Civil Aviation Requirements.
Furthermore, the DGCA detected lapses in the execution of internal audits and spot checks conducted by the airline. These were found to be inadequate and not in compliance with regulatory stipulations.
As a consequence of these findings, showcause notices were issued to the responsible officials at Air India. In response, the airline has been instructed not to assign audits, surveillance, or spot checks related to DGCA requirements to the specific auditor responsible for the perfunctory inspections, which demonstrated a lack of diligence.
In a significant move, the DGCA has suspended the approval of Chief of Flight Safety at Air India for a duration of one month in light of the identified lapses.
This stringent action by the DGCA comes after recent reports highlighted issues with Air India’s internal safety audits. The airline had previously stated its active commitment to conducting such audits to continually assess and enhance operational processes.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had underscored passenger safety as a top priority for DGCA during a briefing last year, emphasizing that there can be no compromises in this critical domain.
The DGCA’s unwavering stance on flight safety and maintenance is a response to multiple instances of flight snags and underlines the commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards in Indian aviation.
