DGCA Implements Stringent Safety Measures Following Recent Aviation Incidents
New Safety Protocols for Non-Scheduled Flight Operators
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Tuesday that safety issues in aviation cannot solely be attributed to pilots. This statement comes alongside the introduction of new stringent safety protocols for non-scheduled flight operators (NSOPs), which include mandatory public disclosures of aircraft maintenance records and a new safety ranking system, following a tragic plane crash that resulted in seven fatalities in Jharkhand.
In response to the recent uptick in aviation accidents, DGCA convened a meeting with NSOPs to discuss the urgent need for enhanced safety measures across the industry.
The DGCA emphasized that safety should take precedence over all commercial interests, charter obligations, or VIP transport. The authority highlighted that the decision made by the Pilot-in-Command regarding flight delays, diversions, or cancellations for safety reasons must be upheld by operators without any repercussions.
Issuing a stern warning, the regulator stated that senior management and accountable personnel within NSOPs will be held liable for any systemic failures, asserting that 'safety lapses cannot simply be blamed on pilots.'
As part of the new measures, the DGCA will conduct thorough audits of NSOPs, which will include random checks of Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs), verification of ADS-B data, fuel logs, and technical records to uncover unauthorized operations or data manipulation.
In addition to requiring public access to vital safety information such as aircraft age and maintenance history, the DGCA will implement a safety ranking system for NSOPs.
Pilots found in violation of safety regulations will face harsher penalties, including potential license suspensions of up to five years.
The regulator will also increase oversight of older aircraft operated by NSOPs and those undergoing ownership transfers.
NSOPs managing their own Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities will be audited, and those lacking sufficient standards will be mandated to outsource maintenance to certified organizations.
Moreover, operators must set up real-time weather monitoring systems and adhere strictly to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Following the initial phase of a special safety audit of NSOPs in early March, the second phase will encompass the remaining operators.
The DGCA plans to hold a workshop on safety after the completion of the current audits to ensure all parties are informed about the new operational requirements.
This high-level meeting with NSOPs was prompted by a detailed analysis of accident data from the last ten years, which revealed that failure to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), poor flight planning, and training gaps were significant contributors to aircraft accidents.
The recent crash marks the second incident involving a non-scheduled operator in less than a month, following a tragic accident on January 28 that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others near Baramati.