In a recent development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has terminated the contract of its Chief Flight Operations Inspector (CFOI), Captain Vivek Chhabra. The termination, cited as being on “administrative grounds and in public interest,” comes into effect immediately, according to a statement from the aviation regulator.
Captain Chhabra, who joined DGCA in March 2021 on an ad hoc basis, had his contract extended until June 2025. The decision to terminate his contract was based on confidential inputs and relevant provisions of the terms and conditions of his engagement, as mentioned in the DGCA statement.
Following the termination, Captain Shweta Singh, Deputy CFOI, has been entrusted with holding the charge of CFOI in addition to her existing duties until further orders, as stated in the termination letter dated January 24.
While there were no specific complaints against Captain Chhabra leading to his termination, this move aligns with the aviation regulator’s ongoing internal changes initiated since last year. In a similar vein, in November last year, DGCA transferred Captain Anil Gill, the head of the flight training department, to head Aerosports following an anonymous complaint of corruption against him.
The complaint alleged that Captain Gill had utilized his position to pressure pilots and flying training organizations into paying kickbacks to companies linked to him. These kickbacks were purportedly in exchange for overlooking rule violations and protocol breaches. The recent actions by DGCA underscore its commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity within the civil aviation sector.
As the aviation community closely watches these developments, the termination of high-ranking officials signals the regulator’s dedication to upholding standards and eradicating malpractices within the industry.
