Air India Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Over Safety Compliance Issues

Regulatory Notices Issued to Air India

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued notices to Air India over safety violations concerning crew fatigue management and training protocols. The airline announced on Thursday that it intends to address these notices within the required timeframe.

The aviation authority criticized Air India, which had self-reported these issues, for its ongoing safety compliance failures, warning that it may face further enforcement actions.

In its response, Air India confirmed receipt of the notices linked to voluntary disclosures made over the past year. An airline spokesperson stated, "We will respond to the said notices within the stipulated period. Our commitment to the safety of our crew and passengers remains unwavering."

The notices highlighted concerns regarding pilots not receiving mandatory rest periods and inadequate adherence to simulator training requirements, among other critical issues.

One notice pointed out that despite previous warnings and enforcement actions for non-compliance, significant issues related to compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance have yet to be resolved.

Last week, the DGCA mandated airlines to inspect the locking mechanisms of fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft in their fleets. This directive follows a preliminary investigation into a tragic Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad last month, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives.

A key finding from the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report indicated that the engines of the ill-fated Boeing aircraft shut down shortly after takeoff due to a fuel supply interruption.

In response, Air India reported that it has conducted precautionary inspections on the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms for all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet, finding no issues during these safety checks.