Ajit Karn
DGCA Fines Air Asia 20 Lakh for Pilot Training Lapses
The aviation regulator DGCA issued a 20 lakh fine to Air Asia (India) Ltd. after its surveillance operation discovered that a few mandatory exercises of the pilots of the airline were not done during Pilot Proficiency Check/Instrument Rating check (which is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization) as per schedule, resulting in a violation of DGCA regulations. This led to a violation of ICAO requirements as well as DGCA regulations.
A three-month suspension was also handed down to the Head of Training for the airline “for failing to fulfil his obligations as per applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements.” In addition, eight selected examiners have each been given a fine of three lakh rupees for the same offence.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also known as the DGCA, had sent show cause notices to the concerned manager of Air Asia, as well as to the head of training and all of the designated examiners of the company, requesting an explanation as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for failing to provide adequate oversight of their regulatory obligations. Their written responses were reviewed, and decisions were made based on what was discovered.
Since the previous year, airlines in India have been subject to increased levels of scrutiny, initially as a result of a number of mechanical breakdowns that occurred in mid-air, and more recently as a result of the crew’s management of disruptive passengers.
According to statements made by Union minister VK Singh in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, domestic airlines have recorded a total of 2,613 serious mechanical faults in their aircraft during the past five years.
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According to the reply, during this time period, IndiGo reported 885 technical difficulties, SpiceJet reported 691, Vistara reported 444, Air India reported 399, AirAsia (India) Ltd reported 79, Go Air reported 54, TruJet reported 30, Alliance Air reported 13, Blue Dart Aviation reported 7, Akasa Air reported 6, and Fly Big reported 5.
