Aviation Safety: DGCA Conducts Stringent Checks To Ensure Compliance; Highest Number Of Surveillances Done In 2023

In a significant move towards enhancing safety standards in the aviation industry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken stringent measures to ensure compliance with regulations.

The measures include conduct of surveillance activities on airlines, aerodrome operators, approved organisations, and aviation personnel under its regulatory control, to meet laid down safety obligations.

Extensive surveillance mechanisms play a pivotal role in safety, mitigating potential safety risks and enhancing safety margins across the industry.

During the year 2023, DGCA intensified its safety oversight efforts, conducting a staggering 5,745 surveillances (4,039 planned surveillances, 1,706 spot checks and night surveillances) — which is an all-time high.

This marked a notable increase of 26 per cent of surveillance activities compared to the year 2022, emphasising the commitment to ensure compliance and safety within the aviation landscape.

Consequent to the findings of the surveillance conducted, enforcement action on non-compliant personnel, airlines, and other operators was taken. A total of 542 enforcement actions were taken in the year 2023, witnessing a 77 per cent increase as compared to the 305 enforcement actions carried out for the year 2022.

Significant enforcement actions for the year 2023 included suspension of approved training organisation of Air India and financial penalties on Airlines like Air India, Air Asia, Indigo and SpiceJet for various non-compliances.

Enforcement actions were also taken on erring pilots/cabin crew, ATCOs, non-scheduled airlines, flying training organisations and aerodrome operators. DGCA’s unwavering commitment to enforcing compliance underscores the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations within the aviation sector to ensure safer skies.

According to the DGCA, in pursuant to the receipt of a voluntary safety report from an airline employee alleging safety violations of flights operated by Air India on certain long range terrain critical routes, DGCA conducted a comprehensive investigation into the alleged violations.

Since the investigation prima facie revealed non-compliance by the airline, a show cause notice was issued to the accountable manager of Air India Limited. The response to the show cause notice was duly examined with respect to the laid down stipulations under the relevant statutory provisions and the performance limits stipulated in critical documentations laid down by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

“Since the said operations of the leased aircraft were not in line with regulatory/ OEM performance limits, DGCA has initiated an enforcement action and imposed a penalty of Rs 1.10 crore on Air India,“ the DGCA said in a statement.